US20190001810A1 - Grille shutter attaching structure of automotive vehicle - Google Patents
Grille shutter attaching structure of automotive vehicle Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20190001810A1 US20190001810A1 US15/969,812 US201815969812A US2019001810A1 US 20190001810 A1 US20190001810 A1 US 20190001810A1 US 201815969812 A US201815969812 A US 201815969812A US 2019001810 A1 US2019001810 A1 US 2019001810A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- shroud
- level
- width direction
- vehicle width
- grille shutter
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60K11/00—Arrangement in connection with cooling of propulsion units
- B60K11/08—Air inlets for cooling; Shutters or blinds therefor
- B60K11/085—Air inlets for cooling; Shutters or blinds therefor with adjustable shutters or blinds
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
- Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
- Y02T10/80—Technologies aiming to reduce greenhouse gasses emissions common to all road transportation technologies
- Y02T10/88—Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a grille shutter attaching structure of an automotive vehicle in which a grille shutter unit provided with shutters and a frame pivotally supporting shutter shafts provided at the shutters is attached to a frame-shaped shroud supporting a heat exchanger.
- Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 2014-198509 and 2017-39368 propose some examples of the above-described grille shutter attaching structure of an automotive vehicle.
- the first patent document discloses a structure in which a frame-shaped (square-tubal shaped) unit frame portion (33) is provided at a grille shutter unit (30) (see the paragraph [0037] and FIG. 11 of the first patent document) and the grille shutter unit (30) is assembled to a front-side lower portion of a shroud member (20) (see the paragraph [0053] and FIGS. 6, 8, 9 and 11 of the first patent document).
- the second patent document discloses another structure in which a shutter frame member (53) is formed in a frame shape (square-tubal shape) (see the paragraph
- FIGS. 5 and 6 of the second patent document and the shutter frame member (53) is attached from a front face of a shroud member (28) (see the paragraph [0078] and FIGS. 2-5 and 7 of the second patent document).
- the grille shutter unit is generally configured such that the frame-shaped frame supporting the shutter shafts provided at the shutters is provided and this frame-shaped frame is attached to a front face portion of the shroud together with the shutters.
- an object of the present invention is to provide a grille shutter attaching structure of an automotive vehicle which can properly achieve weight/cost reduction by eliminating the need for the frame member specially used for the firm grille shutter against the collision.
- the present invention is a grille shutter attaching structure of an automotive vehicle, comprising a frame-shaped shroud supporting a heat exchanger, and a grille shutter unit provided with shutters and a frame pivotally supporting shutter shafts provided at the shutters, wherein the grille shutter unit is attached to the shroud from a back-face side of the shroud at a position located in front of the heat exchanger.
- any frame member specially used for the firm grille shutters against the collision which is described above, becomes unnecessary, so that the weight/cost reduction can be properly achieved.
- the grille shutter unit comprises plural split units provided with the shutters which are configured such that the grille shutter unit is split both laterally and vertically
- the frame of the grille shutter unit comprises outer frames which are positioned on an outward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the shutters and configured to pivotally support the shutter shafts provided at the outward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the shutters and a center frame which is positioned at a center, in the vehicle width direction, of the grille shutter unit and configured to pivotally support the shutter shafts provided at an inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the shutters
- the above-described outer frames are provided for each of the split units on the outward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the shutters
- the above-described center frame is provided for the split units in common at the center, in the vehicle width direction, of the grille shutter unit.
- the frame is configured such that it is attached from a back-face side of the shroud, it is unnecessary that the rigidity of the frame as a whole is made high, compared to a case where the frame is attached from a front side of the shroud. Accordingly, the outer frame can be made independent as the split units, and also the respective split units can be simplified (assembly) as the grille shutter unit by the center frame which serves as a common use for the respective split units.
- the frame-shaped shroud has an opening portion at an inside thereof in an elevational view, a position of an outward edge, in the vehicle width direction, of the opening portion is configured to change in a vertical direction, and a position of an outward edge, in the vehicle width direction, of each of the split units of the grille shutter unit is configured to change in the vertical direction so as to correspond to the positional change of the outward edge of the opening portion.
- the plural split units can be simplified as the grille shutter unit by the center frame serving as the common use for the respective split units, allowing changes of the length or the like of the shutters for each split unit.
- the opening portion of the shroud comprises an upper-level opening portion, a middle-level opening portion, and a lower-level opening portion, an outward edge, in the vehicle width direction, of the middle-level opening portion is positioned on the inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of respective outward edges, in the vehicle width direction, of the upper-level and lower-level opening portions
- the split units of the grille shutter unit comprise an upper-level unit, a middle-level unit, and a lower-level unit
- an outward edge, in the vehicle width direction, of the middle-level unit is positioned on the inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of respective outward edges, in the vehicle width direction of the upper-level and lower-level units so as to correspond to the inward-side positioning of the outward edge of the middle-level opening portion.
- the rigidity against a load generated when the bonnet is closed can be secured by increasing the rigidity of a side part of the shroud, in particular, a middle portion, in the vertical direction, of the side part of the shroud, and also the performance of the heat exchanger can be increased by providing the opening portion (the middle-level opening portion) at this middle portion.
- the center frame of the grille shutter unit is configured to connect an upper-side width-directional center of the shroud and a lower-side width-directional center of the shroud.
- the strength, in the vertical direction, of the shroud can be reinforced by the center frame.
- a latch housing portion where a latch provided at a bonnet is provided is formed at an upper portion of a connection portion of a shroud upper of the shroud where the center frame of the grille shutter unit is connected such that the latch housing portion protrudes toward the opening portion, and a second center frame which is configured to pivotally support a central-side end portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the shutter shafts is arranged on both sides, in the vehicle width direction, of the latch housing portion independently from the center frame.
- the shroud upper can be reinforced by the latch housing portion, and also the shutters provided on the both sides, in the vehicle width direction, of the latch housing portion can be opened or closed properly by making the second center frame independent from the center frame.
- both shroud sides of the shroud which are provided on both sides, in the vehicle width direction, of the shroud are configured to have higher rigidity than a shroud lower of the shroud, and the grille shutter unit and the heat exchanger are attached to the both shroud sides of the shroud.
- the grille shutter unit and the heat exchanger can be firmly supported at the shroud sides having the higher rigidity than the shroud lower, and also the weight of the shroud can be properly reduced because it becomes unnecessary to reinforce a whole circumference of the frame-shaped shroud.
- a boxy-shaped portion which protrudes in a boxy shape from a forming face of the shroud side is provided at a portion of the shroud side which corresponds to a heat-exchanger mount portion where the heat exchanger is attached and supported in a vertical direction, and a shutter support portion which supports the grille shutter unit is provided at a side portion of the boxy-shaped portion.
- the rigidity of the heat-exchanger mount portion and the shutter support portion can be increased by using the boxy-shaped portion provided at the shroud side.
- another shutter support portion which supports the grille shutter unit is provided below the heat-exchanger mount portion, and a cross stay which connects the both-side shroud sides of the shroud in the vehicle width direction is provided.
- the grille shutter unit can be firmly supported by the shutter support portion which is provided below the heat-exchanger mount portion and reinforced by the cross stay as well.
- the grille shutter unit comprises an outer frame which is provided to extend in a vertical direction and pivotally support the shutter shafts which are provided at outward ends, in the vehicle width direction, of the shutters, the outer frame comprises plural split frames which are configured such that the outer frame is split vertically, and a bracket for attaching the shroud to a bumper beam is provided between an upper-level outer frame which is located at an uppermost position and a lower-level outer frame which is located at a lowermost position.
- the weight can be reduced by configuring the grille shutter unit to comprise the plural vertically-split outer frames, and also the support rigidity of the grille shutter can be secured by the shroud (shroud side) by providing the bracket between the upper-level outer frame and the lower-level outer frame.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a grille shutter attaching structure of an embodiment of the present invention, when viewed from a forward side.
- FIG. 2 is a back view of the grille shutter attaching structure of the present embodiment in a state where a radiator and a condenser are detached.
- FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a grille shutter unit of the present embodiment.
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an upper portion and a central portion, in a vertical direction, of a right side of a shroud of the present embodiment.
- FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a central portion, in a vehicle width direction, of the grille shutter unit of the present embodiment, when viewed from the forward side.
- FIG. 6A is an enlarged view of a major part of a first center frame and its surrounding portion of FIG. 2
- FIG. 6B is an enlarged perspective view showing the major part, when viewed from an arrow A in FIG. 6A and a paper front side.
- FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 2 .
- FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 2 .
- FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 2 .
- FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line D-D of FIG. 2 .
- FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a major part, taken along line E-E of FIG. 2 .
- FIG. 12A is a sectional view of a major part, taken along line F-F of FIG. 3
- FIG. 12B is a sectional view of the major part, taken along line G-G of FIG. 3 .
- FIG. 13A is a sectional view of a major part, taken along line H-H of FIG. 2 , in a state where shutters are open
- FIG. 13B is a sectional view of the major part, taken along line H-H of FIG. 2 , in a state where the shutters are closed.
- FIG. 14A is a sectional view of a major part, taken along line I-I of FIG. 2 , in a state where the shutters are open
- FIG. 14B is a sectional view of the major part, taken along line I-I of FIG. 2 , in a state where the shutters are closed.
- an arrow F shows a forward side of a vehicle
- an arrow OUT shows an outward side, in a vehicle width direction, of the vehicle (vehicle rightward side)
- an arrow IN shows an inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the vehicle (vehicle leftward side)
- an arrow U shows an upward side of the vehicle.
- a grille shutter attaching structure 1 of an automotive vehicle of the present embodiment comprises a rectangular frame-shaped shroud 2 and a grille shutter unit 3 which is fixed to the shroud 2 .
- the shroud 2 and the grille shutter unit 3 of the present embodiment are respectively configured to be substantially symmetrical, a right-side part of the grille shutter attaching structure 1 will be described.
- the shroud 2 is configured in a rectangular frame shape to hold a radiator 4 and a condenser 45 as heat exchangers (see FIGS. 8-11 ) and introduce traveling air flowing down from the vehicle forward side toward the radiator 4 .
- a pair of bumper beam attaching brackets 6 (hereafter, referred to as the “brackets 6 ”) are attached to right-and-left both sides of the shroud 2 , and the shroud 2 is connected to a bumper beam 7 via the brackets 6 . Illustration of the brackets 6 and the bumper beam 7 is omitted in FIG. 1 , and illustration of the bumper beam 7 is omitted in FIG. 4 .
- the bumper beam 7 comprises a base plate 7 a which has a hat-shaped cross section and a closing plate 7 b which is of a plate shape as shown in FIGS. 7-10 , and extends in the vehicle width direction.
- the bumper beam 7 is attached to front ends of a pair of front side frames which extend in a longitudinal direction on right-and-left both sides of an engine room via attaching plates and crash cans, which are not illustrated.
- the shroud 2 is arranged in a roughly vertical position at a location which is positioned behind the bumper beam 7 and between a pair of right-and-left crash cans (not illustrated).
- the shroud 2 comprises a shroud upper 21 which extends in the vehicle width direction and forms an upper side of its rectangular frame shape, a shroud lower 22 which forms a lower side of its rectangular frame shape, a pair of right-and-left shroud sides 23 , 23 which form right-and-left sides of its rectangular frame shape and connect right-and-left both ends of the shroud upper 21 and the shroud lower 22 in the vertical direction, and has a rectangular opening portion 8 ( 8 a , 8 b , 8 c ) which penetrates in the longitudinal direction at an inside, in an elevational view, thereof.
- a center stay 24 which is provided to extend in the vertical direction and connect a forward side of a central portion, in a width direction, of the shroud upper 21 (hereafter, referred to as a “upper-side width-directional center 21 M of the shroud 2 ”) and a forward side of a central portion, in the width direction, of the shroud lower 22 (hereafter, referred to as a “lower-side width-directional center 22 M of the shroud 2 ”) is formed integrally at the shroud 2 .
- cross stays 25 a , 25 b (an upper-side cross stay 25 a and a lower-side cross stay 25 b ) which extend in the vehicle width direction and connect respective forward sides of upper-and-lower portions of the pair of right-and-left shroud sides 23 , 23 are formed integrally at the shroud 2 .
- the opening portion 8 is partitioned, by the center stay 24 and the cross stays 25 a , 25 b , into six parts. Specifically, the opening portion 8 is partitioned into right-and-left upper-level opening portions 8 a , 8 a at a position located above the upper-side cross stay 25 a , partitioned into right-and-left middle-level opening portions 8 b , 8 b at a position located between the upper-side cross stay 25 a and the lower-side cross stay 25 b , and partitioned into right-and-left lower-level opening portions 8 c , 8 c at a position located below the lower-side cross stay 25 b.
- an outward edge 8 bo in the vehicle width direction, of the middle-level opening portion 8 b is positioned on an inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of respective outward edges 8 ao , 8 co , in the vehicle width direction, of the upper-level opening portion 8 a and the lower-level opening portion 8 c .
- a wide portion 29 which protrudes toward the middle-level opening portion 8 b is formed at a portion, in the vertical direction, of the shroud side 23 which is located on the inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of an attachment position 26 (a bracket attaching-face portion 26 , which will be described later) of the bracket 6 (see FIGS. 1 and 4 ).
- the center stay 24 is configured such that its lower part is wider than its upper part. Specifically, a portion of the center stay 24 which corresponds to the lower-level opening portion 8 c in the vertical direction is wider than respective portions of the center stay 24 which correspond to the middle-level opening portion 8 b and the upper-level opening portion 8 a in the vertical direction.
- the bracket attaching-face portion 26 is formed at a front face of a central portion, in the vertical direction, of the shroud side 23 , where a rear face portion 6 r of the bracket 6 (see FIGS. 4 and 7 ) is fastened.
- insertion holes 26 a for bolts B 1 to be inserted therethrough are formed at upper and lower portions of the bracket attaching-face portion 26
- penetration (through) holes 6 a are formed at the rear face portion 6 r of the bracket 6 at respective positions which correspond to the insertion holes 26 a .
- Collar nuts N are previously inserted into the upper-and-lower insertion holes 26 a , 26 a .
- Fastening portions 26 c are constituted by inserting the bolts B 1 into the penetration holes 6 a and the collar nuts N inserted into the insertion holes 26 a from the vehicle forward side, whereby the bracket 6 is fixedly fastened to the bracket attaching-face portion 26 .
- a front face of the shroud 2 is configured such that respective peripheral edges 27 a , 27 c of the upper-level opening portion 8 a and the lower-level opening portion 8 c protrude forward relative to a peripheral edge 27 b of the middle-level opening portion 8 b.
- a housing recess portion 28 for housing a rear portion of the bumper beam 7 is formed at a central portion, in the vertical direction, of the front face of the shroud 2 which is located on the inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the pair of right-and-left bracket attaching-face portions 26 , 26 .
- the housing recess portion 28 of the present embodiment comprises a recess-portion upper wall 28 a which slants such that its front side is positioned at a higher level than its rear side, a recess-portion lower wall 28 b which slants such that its front side is positioned at a lower level than its rear side, and a recess-portion rear wall 28 c which vertically connects respective rear ends of these walls 28 a , 28 b , whereby the housing recess portion 28 is configured in a recess shape such that its forward side opens.
- the recess-portion upper wall 28 a is formed at the upper-side cross stay 25 a
- the recess-portion lower wall 28 b is formed at the lower-side cross stay 25 b
- the middle-level opening portion 8 b is formed at the recess-portion rear wall 28 c.
- a reservoir tank 41 is formed integrally with an outward portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the radiator 4 , and a rod-shaped protrusion portion 42 which protrudes outward from the reservoir tank 41 is provided.
- the protrusion portion 42 is configured to have a square-shaped cross section (see FIG. 7 ).
- a support piece 43 for supporting the condenser 45 is integrally formed with a front portion of the reservoir tank 41 of the radiator 4 .
- a reservoir tank 46 is integrally formed with at the outward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the condenser 45 as well, and an outward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the reservoir tank 46 and the above-described support piece 43 are connected by a bracket 44 .
- each mount device 5 comprises a mount rubber 51 which is a resilient member, such as a rubber, and a support bracket 52 which holds the mount rubber 51 and attaches this mount rubber 51 to the shroud side 23 .
- a hole portion 52 a which has a square-shaped cross section and into which the protrusion portion 42 is fitted, is formed at a central portion of the mount rubber 51 .
- the support bracket 52 comprises a tubal-shaped hold portion 53 which holds the protrusion portion 42 via the mount rubber 51 and an attaching piece 55 which extends outward from a rear portion of the hold portion 53 and is attached, from the rearward side, to a rear-end flange portion 54 which extends from a rear end of the shroud side 23 to an outward end, in the vehicle width direction, of the shroud side 23 by fastening means of a bolt B 2 and others, which are formed integrally.
- the radiator 4 and the condenser 45 are supported at right-and-left both sides of the shroud 2 via the two mount devices 5 by the right-and-left protrusion portions 42 being holed.
- a boxy-shaped portion 10 which protrudes in a boxy shape (squarely-cylindrical shape) from the front face of the shroud side 23 is integrally formed with a portion of the shroud side 23 which corresponds to the mount device 5 in the vertical direction.
- the boxy-shaped portion 10 is formed in the squarely-cylindrical shape by an upper wall portion 11 , a lower portion 12 , and both side wall portions 13 o , 13 i , which are further integrally formed with a front wall portion 14 which covers a front end of an inside space of the upper wall portion 11 , the lower wall portion 12 , and the side wall portions 13 o , 13 i .
- a front wall portion 14 which covers a front end of an inside space of the upper wall portion 11 , the lower wall portion 12 , and the side wall portions 13 o , 13 i .
- an attachment hole 14 a for attaching a protector of an airbag sensor, not illustrated (see FIGS. 4 and 11 ).
- the upper wall portion 11 and the outward-side side wall portion 13 o protrude rearward beyond the bracket attaching-face portion 26 (see FIG. 4 ) of the shroud side 23 , and a rib 15 (see FIG. 7 ) which protrudes rearward beyond the bracket attaching-face portion 26 is integrally formed at a position located slightly below a rear end of the lower wall portion 12 .
- Respective protrusion portions 11 a , 13 oa of the upper wall portion 11 and the outward-side side wall portion 13 c and the rib 15 are configured as a base portion of the above-described boxy-shaped portion 10 (see FIGS. 4, 7 and 11 ).
- the tubal-shaped hold portion 53 of the support bracket 52 is provided to be fit into a space of the base portion of the boxy-shaped portion 10 (see FIG. 7 ), whereby the boxy-shaped portion 10 is also configured as a reinforcing portion to reinforce the support rigidity of the radiator 4 and the condenser 45 by the mount device 5 .
- the shroud 2 includes a shroud upper member 17 which is attached to an upper face of the shroud upper 21 and the shroud side members 18 , 18 which are provided at right-and-left both sides of the shroud upper member 17 .
- FIG. 4 illustration of the shroud upper member 17 and the shroud side member 18 is omitted.
- the shroud upper member 17 is connected to front end portions of apron members, not illustrated, via the shroud side members 18 , 18 at its both sides.
- the rectangular-frame shaped body portion (the shroud upper 21 , the shroud lower 22 , and the both-side shroud sides 23 , 23 ) is made of a hard plastic material, whereas the shroud upper member 17 and the shroud side members 18 , 18 are made of a steel plate.
- a pedestal (seat) portion 18 a where a stopper rubber, not illustrated, which is a shock absorbing member to absorb closing shock (closing impact) of a bonnet (engine hood), is placed is provided at an inward side of the upper face of each of the shroud side members 18 , 18 , specifically at a portion of the shroud side member 18 which corresponds to the shroud side 23 in the vehicle width direction (see FIG. 1 ).
- a penetration hole 17 a through which a striker (not illustrated) provided at the bonnet passes.
- a downward extension portion 21 a is integrally formed at a front side of a central portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the shroud upper 21 which is positioned below the penetration hole 17 a of the shroud upper member 17 such that the downward extension portion 21 a extends downward from a lower face of the shroud upper 21 and protrudes toward the right-and-left both-side upper-level opening portions 8 a , 8 a.
- a latch housing portion 9 which houses a latch, not illustrated, is provided at the front side of the central portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the shroud upper 21 including the above-described downward extension portion 21 a .
- this latch housing portion 9 comprises a lower wall portion 9 a , right-and-left both-side side wall portions 9 b , 9 b , and a rear wall portion 9 c such that the latch housing portion 9 is configured in a recess shape (pocket shape) which opens forward and upward.
- the bonnet is configured to engage with a vehicle body when the striker provided at the bonnet engages with the latch housed in the latch housing portion 9 , passing through the penetration hole 17 a , when the bonnet is closed.
- an upper end of the center stay 24 is integrally connected to a central portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the lower wall portion 9 a of the latch housing portion 9 , and the latch housing portion 9 is configured to be wider than the center stay 24 (at least an upper portion of the center stay 24 ) (see FIG. 1 ).
- the grille shutter unit 3 As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 8-11 , the grille shutter unit 3 of the present embodiment is attached to the shroud 2 such that it does not protrude beyond the shroud 2 in the elevational view from its back-face side and a forward side of the radiator 4 and the condenser 45 .
- the grille shutter unit 3 which comprises plural (six, in the present embodiment) split units 3 a - 3 c , i.e., upper-level units 3 a , 3 a , middle-level units 3 b , 3 b and lower-level units 3 c , 3 c , is configured to be substantially symmetrical.
- the grille shutter unit 3 comprises plural shutters 30 which extend in the vehicle width direction, an actuator (driving actuator) 31 (see FIGS. 3 and 8 ) which drives opening/closing (swinging) of the shutters 30 , and a swing link 70 ( 71 , 74 ) (see FIG. 2 ) which transmits a driving force of the actuator 31 to the shutters 30 , and a frame 60 ( 61 a , 61 b , 61 c , 63 , 64 ) which is attached on the side of the shroud 2 and holds the shutters 30 and the swing link 70 .
- the shutters 30 , the swing link 70 , and the frame 60 are provided at the split units 3 a - 3 c as basic structural elements.
- the plural shutters 30 are respectively arranged in the vertical direction for the split units 3 a - 3 c .
- four of the shutters are provided at the upper-level unit 3 a
- two of the shutters are provided at the middle-level unit 3 b
- five of the shutters are provided at the lower-level unit 3 c .
- Opening/closing of the upper-level, middle-level, lower-level opening portions 8 a , 8 b , 8 c are respectively controlled by these shutters.
- the four shutters 30 provided at the upper-level unit 3 a are set as an upper-level shutter 30 a as shown in FIG. 1 , wherein first—fourth upper-level shutters 30 a 1 - 30 a 4 are set in order from the top as shown in FIG. 3 .
- the two shutters 30 provided at the middle-level unit 3 b are set as a middle-level shutter 30 b , wherein first, second middle-level shutters 30 b 1 , 30 b 2 are set in order from the top.
- the five shutters 30 provided at the lower-level unit 3 c are set as a lower-level shutter 30 c , wherein first—fifth lower-level shutters 30 c 1 - 30 c 5 are set in order from the top.
- the upper-level shutter 30 a and the lower-level shutter 30 c are positioned slightly in front of the middle-level shutter 30 b in accordance with the above-described structure in which the respective peripheral edges 27 a , 27 c of the upper-level opening portion 8 a and the lower-level opening portion 8 c protrude forward relative to the peripheral edge 27 b of the middle-level opening portion 8 b (see FIG. 1 ).
- the shutters 30 are configured accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 1-3 , such that an outward edge 30 bo of the middle-level shutter 30 b is positioned on the inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of outward edges 30 ao , 30 co of the upper-level shutter 30 a and the lower-level shutter 30 c.
- the respective shutters 30 a , 30 b , 30 c provided at the upper-level, middle-level, and lower-level units 3 a - 3 c are configured such that respective lengths, in the vehicle width direction, thereof are equal or slightly shorter than respective opening lengths, in the vehicle width direction, of the upper-level, middle-level, and lower-level opening portions 8 a , 8 b , 8 c (see FIGS. 1 and 2 ).
- the shutters 30 comprise shutter shafts 34 o which protrude outward from outward edges, in the vehicle width direction, thereof and shutter shafts 34 i which protrude inward from inward edges, in the vehicle width direction, thereof, and these shutter shafts 34 o , 34 i extend coaxially in the vehicle width direction.
- the frame 60 comprises outer frames 61 a , 61 b , 61 c which pivotally support the outward-side shutter shafts 34 i of the shutters 30 and center frames 63 , 64 which pivotally support the inward-side shutter shafts 34 i of the shutters 30 .
- the center frames 63 , 64 comprise the first center frame 63 and the second frames 64 , 64 which are arranged above and on right-and-left both sides of the first center frame 63 .
- the first center frame 63 is provided as a common frame to all of the split units 3 a - 3 c , and attached to a back face of the center stay 24 such that the first center frame 63 matches the center stay 24 in the vehicle width direction at the central portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the shroud 2 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 8 .
- the first center frame 63 extends in the vertical direction between an upper end and a lower end of the center stay 24 , and comprises a lower-side wide portion 63 w and a narrow portion 63 s which is positioned above the wide portion 63 w , corresponding to the center stay 24 (see FIG. 3 ).
- an actuator housing portion 65 which houses the actuator 31 is provided at a lower side of the first center frame 63 .
- all of the shutters 30 provided at the grille shutter unit 3 are directly or indirectly driven by the single actuator 31 for opening/closing of the shutters 30 .
- the actuator housing portion 65 is provided at a portion of the wide portion 63 w of the first center frame 63 which corresponds, in the vertical direction, to the lower-level opening portion 8 c of the shroud 2 , and the actuator 31 is housed in the actuator housing portion 65 , so that the actuator 31 is arranged at a back-face side of the lower part of the center stay 24 (see FIG. 8 ).
- the actuator housing portion 65 comprises a front wall portion 65 a which covers a lower part of the actuator 31 from the forward side at the first center frame 63 , a rear wall portion 65 b which covers a back-face side of an upper part of the actuator 31 , and side wall portions 65 c , 65 c which cover both sides, in the vehicle width direction, of the actuator 31 (see FIG. 5 ).
- FIG. 12B which is the sectional view of the major part, taken along line G-G of FIG. 3 , at an upper part of the actuator 31 are provided motor shafts (drive shafts) 31 a , 31 a which protrude outward from its right-and-left both sides, and the actuator 31 is fixed to the first center frame 63 (see FIG. 12B which is the sectional view of the major part, taken along line G-G of FIG. 3 , at an upper part of the actuator 31 are provided motor shafts (drive shafts) 31 a , 31 a which protrude outward from its right-and-left both sides, and the actuator 31 is fixed to the first center frame 63 (see FIG.
- lower-level second shutter shaft 340 i the shutter shaft 34 i of the lower-level second shutter 30 c 2 (hereafter, referred to as “lower-level second shutter shaft 340 i ”) in the side view, that is, the motor shafts 31 a , 31 a and the lower-level second shutter shaft 340 i are coaxial (see FIG. 12B ).
- the above-described first center frame 63 is integrally attached to the center stay 24 such that the upper-side width-directional center 21 M of the shroud 2 (i.e., the central portion, in the width direction, of the shroud upper 21 ) and the lower-side width-directional center 22 M of the shroud 2 (i.e., the central portion, in the width direction, of the shroud lower 22 ) are interconnected by these two. Accordingly, the center stay 24 can secure the rigidity, in the vertical direction, of the shroud 2 together with the first center frame 63 .
- the lower part of the first center frame 63 which houses the actuator 31 as a weight object is configured to be wide similarly to the center stay 24 , the high rigidity can be secured, and since the upper part of the first center frame 63 is integrated with the center stay 24 , its width can be made as narrow as possible, so that the sufficiently large opening portion can be secured.
- the penetration holes 63 a comprise at least eight holes which are formed at upper-and-lower parts provided along a central portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the narrow portion 63 s of the first center frame 63 , parts which are slightly offset outward from the central portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the upper portion of the wide portion 63 w (upper-and-lower parts of the portion corresponding to the middle-level opening portion 8 b ), right-and-left both sides of a central portion (portion corresponding to an upper end of the lower-level opening portion 8 c ), in the vertical direction, of the wide portion 63 w , and right-and-left both sides of a lower portion (portion corresponding to an lower portion of the lower-level opening portion 8 c ) of the wide portion 63 w.
- screw insertion holes 24 a are formed at portions of the back face of the center stay 24 which respectively correspond to the penetration holes 63 a of the first center frame 63 in the elevational view.
- tapping screws T are inserted into the screw insertion holes 24 a and the penetration holes 63 a from the back-face side, respectively, whereby a shutter support portion 66 i is configured and the first center frame 63 is fixedly fastened to the center stay 24 integrally.
- the first center frame 63 is attached to the upper portion of the center stay 24 which is formed integrally with the central portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the shroud upper 21 at an uppermost shutter support portion 66 ia (see FIGS. 6A and 8 ) of the plural (eight) shutter support portions 66 i.
- the above-described upper-side width-directional center 21 M of the shroud 2 is a portion which corresponds to the central portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the shroud upper 21 and the upper portion of the center stay 24 which includes the uppermost shutter support portion 66 ia (see FIGS. 2 and 6A ).
- the first center frame 63 is attached to the lower portion of the center stay 24 which is formed integrally with the central portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the shroud lower 22 at a lowermost shutter support portion 66 ib (see FIG. 6A ) of the plural (eight) shutter support portions 66 i.
- the above-described lower-side with-directional center 22 M of the shroud 2 is a portion which corresponds to the central portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the shroud lower 22 and the lower portion of the center stay 24 which includes the lowermost shutter support portion 66 ib (see FIGS. 2 and 6A ).
- shaft support portions 67 ia , 67 ib , 67 ic which pivotally support the respective shutter shafts 34 i which are provided at the inward side of the shutters 30 of the upper-level, middle-level, and lower-level split units 3 a - 3 c.
- the shaft support portions 67 ia which pivotally support the shutter shafts 34 i which are provided at the respective inward sides of a third upper-level shutter 30 a 3 and a fourth upper-level shutter 30 a 4 are provided at upper-and-lower portions of the narrow portion 63 s of the first center frame 63 .
- shaft support portions 67 ib which pivotally support the shutter shafts 34 i which are provided at the respective inward sides of the middle-level shutters 30 b 1 , 30 b 2 are provided at upper-and-lower portions of the wide portion 63 w of the first center frame 63 which correspond to the middle-level opening portion 8 b.
- FIGS. 5 and 12A which the sectional view of the major part, taken along line F-F of FIG. 3 , at upper-and-lower portions of the wide portion 63 w of the first center frame 63 which correspond to the lower-level opening portion 8 c are provided the shaft support portions 67 ic which pivotally support the shutter shafts 34 i which are provided at the respective inward sides of the lower-level shutters 30 c 1 , 30 c 3 - 30 c 5 , except the lower-level second shutter 30 c 2 .
- the lower-level second shutter shaft 340 i is not pivotally supported by the first center frame 63 , and directly connected to the motor shaft 31 a which protrudes from the actuator 31 provided at the first center frame 63 (see FIG. 12B ), whereby the lower-level second shutter shaft 340 i is pivotally supported at the motor shaft 31 a on the right-and-left both sides. That is, as shown in FIGS.
- the shaft support portion 67 ic which pivotally supports the lower-level second shutter shaft 340 i is not provided at respective portions of right-and-left side wall portions of the first center frame 63 which correspond to the lower-level second shutter shaft 340 i , and a large-diameter penetration hole 63 b which has a larger diameter than the lower-level second shutter shaft 340 i is provided so that the lower-level second shutter shaft 340 i can be allowed to pass through this hole 63 b and connected to the motor shaft 31 a (see FIGS. 3, 5 and 12B ).
- the second center frames 64 are arranged on the both sides, in the vehicle width direction, of the latch housing portion 9 , independently (separately) from the first center frame 63 , as a part of the upper-level unit 3 a .
- Each second center frame 64 is provided with shaft support portions 67 ia which pivotally support the shutter shafts 34 i respectively provided at the inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the upper-level first shutter 3 a 1 and the upper-level second shutter 3 a 2 .
- the above-described second center frame 64 is fixedly fastened from the back-face side of the shroud 2 similarly to the first center frame 63 .
- a penetration hole 64 a is formed at the second center frame 64
- a screw penetration (through) hole 22 a is formed at a portion of the shroud 2 which corresponds to the penetration hole 64 a of the second center frame 64 .
- the shutter support portion 66 i is constituted by inserting the tapping screw T into the screw insertion hole 22 a and the penetration hole 64 a from the back-face side, and the second center frame 64 is fixedly fastened to the shroud 2 integrally.
- the outer frames 61 a , 61 b , 61 c comprise the upper-level outer frames 61 a , the middle-level outer frames 61 b , and the lower-level outer frames 61 c which are respectively arranged on the right-and-left both sides, which correspond to the upper-level unit 3 a , the middle-level unit 3 b , and the lower-level unit 3 c.
- shaft support portions 67 oa which pivotally support the shutter shafts 34 o provided at the outward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the upper-level shutters 30 a 1 - 30 a 4 are provided the upper-and-lower portions of the upper-level outer frames 61 a.
- shaft support portions 67 ob which pivotally support the shutter shafts 34 o provided at the outward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the middle-level shutters 30 b 1 , 30 b 2 are provided the upper-and-lower portions of the middle-level outer frames 61 b .
- shaft support portions 67 oc which pivotally support the shutter shafts 34 o provided at the outward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the lower-level shutters 30 c 1 - 30 c 5 are provided the upper-and-lower portions of the lower-level outer frames 61 c.
- the above-described outer frames 61 a , 61 b , 61 c are fixedly fastened from the back-face side of the shroud 2 , similarly to the first and second center frames 63 , 64 .
- penetration holes 61 d are formed at respective upper-and-lower portions of the upper-level and lower-level outer frames 61 a , 61 c and a middle portion, in the vertical direction, of the middle-level outer frame 61 b (see FIG. 3 ). Further, as shown in FIG. 11 , screw penetration holes 22 b are formed at portions of the shroud which correspond to the above-described penetration holes 61 d . Herein, only the screw penetration hole 22 b which corresponds to the uppermost penetration hole 61 d is illustrated in FIG. 11 .
- the tapping screws T are inserted into the screw penetration holes 22 b and the penetration holes 61 d from the back-face side, whereby a shutter support portion 66 o is constituted, and the upper-level, middle-level, and lower-level outer frames 61 a , 61 b , 61 c are fixedly fastened to the shroud 2 from the back-face side integrally.
- bracket 6 (see FIGS. 4 and 7 ) is attached to the bracket attaching-face portion 26 such that it extends in the vertical direction between the upper-level outer frame 61 a (see FIG. 2 ) and the lower-level outer frame 61 c (see the same figure).
- the upper-side fastening portion 26 c where the bracket 6 is fastened to the bracket attaching-face portion 26 is positioned such that it matches the upper-level outer frame 61 a in the vertical direction, and the lower-side fastening portion 26 c is provided such that it matches (overlaps) the down-level outer frame 61 c in the vertical direction (see the same figure).
- the upper-most shutter support portion 66 o is provided such that it substantially matches the boxy-shaped portion 10 and the mount device 5 in the vertical direction.
- the upper-most shutter support portion 66 o is provided at a portion which substantially horizontally extends inward from the inward-side side wall portion 13 i of the boxy-shaped portion 10 up to a position in front of the outward edge 8 ao of the upper-level opening portion 8 a (see FIG. 11 ).
- the swing link 70 comprises a pair of right-and-left first swing links 71 , 71 which are provided at right-and-left both sides thereof and a pair of right-and-left second swing links 74 , 74 which are provided at right-and-left and upward sides of the grille shutter unit 3 (see FIGS. 2 and 3 ).
- the first swing links 71 are arranged between the plural shutters 30 and the first center frame 63 in the vehicle width direction on the right-and-left both sides, and positioned on the back-face side relative to the shutter shafts 34 i , 340 i.
- the pair of right-and-left first swing links 71 , 71 are configured, as a part of a center swing link unit 75 , in a crank shape along a shape of the right-and-left side portions of the first center frame 63 comprising the narrow portion 63 s and the wide portion 63 w such that the first swing links 71 , 71 are substantially symmetrical (see FIGS. 3, 5 and 6A ).
- the center swing link unit 75 comprises the pair of right-and-left first swing links 71 , 71 and plural back-face-side connection portions 72 (see FIG. 6A ) which connect upper-and-lower portions of the first swing links 71 , 71 in the vehicle width direction on the back-face side of the first center frame 63 , which are formed integrally.
- plural swing shafts 73 i which protrude outward, in the vehicle width direction, from respective outward faces, in the vehicle width direction, of the pair of right-and-left first swing links 71 , 71 (see FIG. 5 ) are pivotally attached to the first swing links 71 , 71 .
- These swing shafts 73 i are provided in the vertical direction such that these shafts 73 i correspond to the shutters 30 which are provided in the vertical direction on the outward sides, in the vehicle width direction, of the first swing links 71 .
- the swing shafts 73 i are pivotally supported at positions of the inward end faces, in the vehicle width direction, of the shutters 30 which are offset from the shutter shafts 34 i (including 340 i ) (see FIGS. 13A, 13B ).
- the swing shaft 73 i which is pivotally supported at the lower-level second shutter 30 c 2 is set as a lower-level second swing shaft 73 ia . Since the lower-level second shutter shaft 340 i is directly connected to the motor shaft 31 a as described above (see FIG. 12B ), when the actuator 31 is driven, the driving force of the actuator 31 is transmitted directly to the lower-level second shutter 30 c 2 , not by way of the first swing link 71 , so that the lower-level second shutter 30 c 2 is driven (swung) for opening/closing.
- the lower-level second swing shaft 73 ia is swung around the lower-level second swing shaft 73 ia in accordance with the driving of the lower-level second shutter 30 c 2 . Since the first swing link 71 is swung in the vertical direction in accordance with the swing of the lower-level second swing shaft 73 ia , the other swing shafts 73 i than the lower-level second swing 73 ia which are pivotally supported at the first swing link 71 are swung.
- the other shutters 30 ( 30 a 3 , 30 a 4 , 30 b 1 , 30 b 2 , 30 c 1 , 30 c 3 - 30 c 5 ) than the lower-level second shutter 30 c 2 which are pivotally supported at the first center frame 63 can be swung as well.
- the opening/closing of the lower-level opening portion 8 c by the shutters 30 will be described particularly.
- the first swing link 71 is positioned downward as shown in FIG. 14A , and, for example, when the motor shaft 31 a is rotated counterclockwise by 90 degrees by driving of the actuator 31 from this open state as shown in FIG. 14B (see an arrow d 2 in FIG. 14B ), the lower-level second shutter 30 c 2 is rotated counterclockwise by 90 degrees around the lower-level second shutter shaft 340 i together with the lower-level second swing shaft 73 ia (see the arrow d 2 in FIG. 13B ).
- the lower-level second shutter 30 c 2 is in the closed state as shown in FIG. 13B .
- the first swing link 71 is moved upward in accordance with the above-described rotation of the lower-level second swing shaft 73 ia as shown in FIG. 14B (see an arrow du in FIG. 14B ).
- the respective swing shafts 73 i of the other lower-level shutters 30 c 1 , 30 c 3 - 30 c 5 than the lower-level second shutter shaft 340 i are rotated counterclockwise by 90 degrees (see arrows d 1 , d 3 -d 5 in FIG. 14B ). Consequently, the lower-level shutters 30 c 1 , 30 c 3 - 30 c 5 are in a closed state (see arrows d 1 , d 3 -d 5 in FIG. 13B ).
- the second swing links 74 are arranged at the right-and-left both-side upper-level units 3 a between the upper-level shutters 30 a and the upper-level outer frames 61 a , and arranged on the back-face side relative to the outward-side shutter shafts 34 o which are respectively provided at the upper-level shutters 30 a.
- the right-and-left both-side second swing links 74 , 74 are integrally provided with swing shafts 73 o which protrude inward, in the vehicle width direction, from their inward end faces (see FIG. 2 ), and the swing shafts 73 are provided in the vertical direction so as to correspond to the upper-level unit 30 a . That is, the swing shafts 73 o are attached to the outward end faces, in the vehicle width direction, of the shutters 30 such that the swing shafts 73 o are offset from the shutter shafts 34 o (see FIG. 3 ) in the vehicle side view, similarly to the above-described swing shafts 73 i.
- the upper-level third shutter 30 a 3 and the upper-level fourth shutter 30 a 4 are swung directly in accordance with the swinging of the first swing link 71 , whereas the upper-level first shutter 30 a 1 and the upper-level second shutter 30 a 2 are not swung directly because these links 30 a 1 , 30 a 2 are not directly connected to the first swing link 71 .
- the upper-level first shutter 30 a 1 and the upper-level second shutter 30 a 2 are connected to the upper-level third shutter 30 a 3 and the upper-level fourth shutter 30 a 4 by way of the second swing link 74 , the upper-level first shutter 30 a 1 and the upper-level second shutter 30 a 2 can be also swung by way of the second swing links 74 in accordance with the swinging of the upper-level third shutter 30 a 3 and the upper-level fourth shutter 30 a 4 .
- the present embodiment is the grille shutter attaching structure 1 of the automotive vehicle, in which the grille shutter unit 3 which is provided with the shutters 30 and the frame 60 ( 61 a , 61 b , 61 c , 63 , 64 ) which pivotally supports the shutter shafts 34 i , 34 o provided at the shutters 30 is attached to the frame-shaped shroud 2 which supports the radiator 4 and the condenser 45 as an heat exchanger, wherein the grille shutter unit 3 is configured to be attached to the shroud 2 from the back-face side of the shroud 2 at the position located in front of the radiator 4 and the condenser 45 (see FIGS. 2 and 7-11 ).
- the grille shutter unit 3 comprises the split units 3 a - 3 c provided with the shutters 30 a , 30 b , 30 c which are configured such that the grille shutter unit 3 is split both laterally and vertically (see FIGS. 1-3 ),
- the frame 60 of the grille shutter unit 30 comprises the outer frames 61 a , 61 b , 61 c which are positioned on the outward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the shutters 30 and pivotally support the shutter shafts 34 c provided at the outward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the shutters 30 (see FIGS.
- the center frames 63 , 64 (the first center frame 63 and the center frame 64 ) which pivotally support the shutter shafts 34 i provided at the inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the shutters 30 (see FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 11 ), the outer frames 61 a , 61 b , 61 c are provided for each of the split units 3 a - 3 c on the outward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the shutters 30 (see the same figures), and the first center frame 63 of the above-described center frames 63 , 64 is provided for the split units 3 a - 3 c in common at the center, in the vehicle width direction, of the grille shutter unit 3 (see FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 8 ).
- the frame 60 is configured such that it is attached from the back-face side of the shroud 2 , it is unnecessary that the rigidity of the frame 60 as a whole is made so high, compared to a case where the frame 60 is attached from a front side of the shroud 2 . Accordingly, it becomes unnecessary to provide the above-described frame member, so that the weight reduction of the grille shutter unit 3 can be achieved.
- the respective split units 3 a - 3 c can be simplified (assembly) as the grille shutter unit 3 by the center frames 63 , 64 without providing conventionally the frame member, so that the performance of assembling to the shroud 2 can be secured.
- the frame-shaped shroud 2 has the opening portion 8 ( 8 a , 8 b , 8 c ) at its inside in the elevational view, the position of the outward edges 8 ao , 8 bo , 8 co , in the vehicle width direction, of the opening portion 8 is configured to change in the vertical direction (see FIGS.
- each of the split units 3 a - 3 c of the grille shutter unit 3 that is, the position of the outward edges 30 ao , 30 bo , 30 co , in the vehicle width direction, of the shutters 30 a , 30 b , 30 c provided at the split units 3 a - 3 c , is configured to change in the vertical direction so as to correspond to the positional change of the outward edges 8 ao , 8 bo , 8 co of the opening portion 8 (see FIGS. 1-3 ).
- the respective split units 3 a - 3 c can be configured such that the position of the outward ends 30 ao , 30 bo , 30 co , in the vehicle width direction, of the split units 3 a - 3 c matches the shape (the position, in the vehicle width direction, of the outward edges 8 ao , 8 bo , 8 co ) of the opening portion 8 of the frame-shaped shroud 2 .
- the split units 3 a - 3 c can flexibly correspond to the shape of the shroud 2 .
- the opening portion 8 of the shroud 2 comprises the upper-level opening portion 8 a , the middle-level opening portion 8 b , and the lower-level opening portion 8 c , the outward edge 8 bo , in the vehicle width direction, of the middle-level opening portion 8 b is positioned on the inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the respective outward edges 8 ao , 8 co , in the vehicle width direction, of the upper-level and lower-level opening portions 8 a , 8 c (see FIGS.
- the split units 3 a - 3 c of the grille shutter unit 3 comprise the upper-level unit 3 a , the middle-level unit 3 b , and the lower-level unit 3 c , and the outward edge 30 bo , in the vehicle width direction, of the middle-level unit 3 b (the middle-level shutter 30 b ) is positioned on the inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the respective outward edges 30 ao , 30 co , in the vehicle width direction, of the upper-level and lower-level units 3 a , 3 c (the upper-level and lower-level shutters 30 a , 30 c ) so as to correspond to the inward-side positioning of the outward edge 8 bo of the middle-level opening portion 8 b (see FIGS. 1-3 ).
- the middle portion, in the vertical direction, of the shroud 2 is also required to have the rigidity against the load of the bonnet closing.
- the rigidity of the middle portion, in the vertical direction, of the shroud 2 can be secured, increasing the performance of the heat exchanger by providing the middle-level opening portion 8 c at the middle portion, in the vertical direction, of the shroud 2 as well.
- the bracket 6 is attached to the bracket attaching-face portion 26 , in addition to providing the wide portion 29 at the middle portion, in the vertical direction, of each of the right-and-left both sides of the shroud 2 , so that the rigidity of the middle portion, in the vertical direction, of each of the right-and-left both sides of the shroud 2 is further increased.
- the mount device 5 as the heat-exchanger mount portion is provided at the upper portion of the shroud side 23 and also the latch housing portion 9 is provided at the middle portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the shroud upper 21 , the mount device 5 and the latch housing portion 9 being configured in the boxy shape, whereby the rigidity of the upper portion of the shroud 2 is increased.
- the weight of the shroud 2 can be reduced by setting the rigidity to be lower than the upper portion and the middle portion.
- the first center frame 63 of the center frames 63 , 64 connect the upper-side width-directional center 21 M (see the imaginary line in FIG. 2 ) of the shroud 2 and the lower-side width-directional center 22 M (see the imaginary line in FIG. 2 ) of the shroud 2 (see FIGS. 2, 6A and 8 ).
- the strength, in the vertical direction, of the shroud 2 can be reinforced by the center frames 63 , 64 .
- the latch housing portion 9 (pocket portion) where the latch, not illustrated, which is provided at the bonnet is provided is formed at the upper portion of the connection portion of the shroud upper 21 where the first center frame 63 is connected (that is, the uppermost shutter support portion 66 ia of the first center frame 63 (see FIGS. 2 and 8A )) such that the latch housing portion 9 protrudes toward the upper-level opening portion 8 a (see FIG. 1 ), and the second center frames 64 which pivotally support the shutter shafts 34 i provided at the inward ends, in the vehicle width direction, of the upper-level shutters 30 a are arranged on the both sides, in the vehicle width direction, of the latch housing portion 9 independently from the first center frame 63 (see FIGS. 2 and 3 ).
- the grille shutter unit 3 can be attached to the shroud 2 as an assembled unit.
- the central portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the shroud upper 21 can be reinforced.
- the second center frames 64 , 64 provided on the both sides of the shroud upper 21 are configured to be independent from the first center frame 63 , these frames 64 , 64 can be arranged on the both sides, in the vehicle width direction, of the latch housing portion 9 , so that the upper-level first shutter 3 a 1 and the upper-level second shutter 3 a 2 can be supported by the second center frames 64 , 64 as well.
- the above-described structure can flexibly correspond to the shape of the shroud 2 provided with the latch housing portion 9 by providing the second center frames 64 , 64 which are independent from the first center frame 63 , not by providing the conventional type of single frame member which support all of the shutters 30 .
- the both shroud sides 23 , 23 which are provided on the both sides, in the vehicle width direction, of the shroud 2 are configured to have the higher rigidity than the shroud lower 22 , and the grille shutter unit 3 , the radiator 4 , and the condenser 45 are attached to the both shroud sides 23 , 23 (see FIGS. 7 and 11 ).
- the portion of the shroud 2 where the grille shutter unit 3 is attached requires the rigidity for supporting the grille shutter unit 3 and also the portion of the shroud 2 where the radiator 4 and the condenser 45 are attached requires the rigidity for supporting these members 4 , 45 , the portions for attaching the grille shutter unit 3 and the radiator 4 are positioned at the shroud side 23 which has the higher rigidity than the shroud lower 22 (see the shutter support portion 66 o in FIGS. 2 and 11 and the mount device 5 in FIG. 11 ).
- the above-described members can be firmly attached to the frame-shaped shroud 2 , without reinforcing the whole circumference of the shroud 2 , so that the weight of the shroud 2 can be properly reduced.
- the shroud 2 is configured such that the boxy-shaped portion 10 is provided and the bracket 6 is attached to the bracket attaching-face portion 26 (see FIG. 4 ).
- the outward edge 8 bo in the vehicle width direction, of the middle-level opening portion 8 b is positioned on the inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the respective outward edges 8 ao , 8 co , in the vehicle width direction, of the upper-level opening portion 8 a and the lower-level opening portion 8 c , and according to this structure, the wide portion 29 which protrudes toward the middle-level opening portion 8 b is formed at the portion, in the vertical direction, of the shroud side 23 which is located on the inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the attachment position 26 (the bracket attaching-face portion 26 ) of the bracket 6 (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 ).
- the right-and-left both-side shroud sides 23 , 23 can be configured to have the high rigidity than the shroud lower 22 without particularly reinforcing the shroud sides 23 , 23 , and the grille shutter unit 3 and the radiator 4 are so attached to the shroud sides 23 , 23 having the high rigidity that these members 3 , 4 can be firmly supported.
- the boxy-shaped portion 10 which protrudes in the boxy shape from the forming face of the shroud side 23 is provided at the portion of the shroud side 23 which corresponds to the mount device 5 as the heat-exchanger mount portion where the radiator 4 is attached and supported in the vertical direction (see FIGS. 1, 4, 7 and 11 ), and the shutter support portion 66 o which supports the grille shutter unit 3 is provided at the side portion 13 o of the boxy-shaped portion 10 (see FIGS. 2 and 11 ).
- the rigidity of the mount device 5 can be increased, and also the rigidity of the shutter support portion 66 o can be increased by providing the shutter support portion 66 o at the side portion 13 o of the boxy-shaped portion 10 .
- the boxy-shaped portion 10 is the pedestal (seat) for attaching the protector of the airbag sensor, so that the rigidity of the mount device 5 and the shutter support portion 66 o can be increased properly by utilizing this existing member as an auxiliary-parts attaching pedestal (seat) which is configured in the boxy shape to have the higher rigidity than any other portion, without providing an additional reinforcing means.
- the shutter support portions 66 o are provided below the mount devices 5 as well (see FIG. 2 ), and the cross stays 25 a , 25 b (the upper-side cross stay 25 a and the lower-side cross stay 25 b ) which connect the right-and-left both-side shroud sides 23 , 23 in the vehicle width direction are provided (see FIGS. 1 and 2 ).
- a burden of supporting the grille shutter unit 3 can be dispersed (reduced) by the shutter support portions 66 o by providing the shutter support portions 66 o below the mount devices 5 , additionally beside the mount devices 5 . Further, while the rigidity is required at the respective portions of the shroud sides 23 , 23 which are positioned below the mound devices 5 because the shutter support portions 66 o provided below the mount devices 5 support the grille shutter unit 3 , the rigidity of these respective portions can be properly increased by the cross stays 25 a , 25 b.
- the grille shutter unit 3 comprises the outer frames 61 a , 61 b , 61 c which are provided to extend in the vertical direction and pivotally support the shutter shafts 34 o which are provided at the outward ends, in the vehicle width direction, of the shutters 30 (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 11 ), the outer frames 61 a , 61 b , 61 c are split vertically (see the same figures), and the brackets 6 for attaching the shroud 2 to the bumper beam 7 are provided between the upper-level outer frames 61 a which are located at the uppermost positions and the lower-level outer frames 61 c which are located at the lowermost positions (see FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 7 ).
- the weight can be reduced by configuring the grille shutter unit 3 to comprise the plural vertically-split outer frames 61 a , 61 b , 61 c , compared with a case where the frame member is conventionally provided. Additionally, the support rigidity of the grille shutter unit 3 by the shroud 2 (the shroud sides 23 ) can be secured by providing the brackets 6 between the upper-level outer frames 61 a and the lower-level outer frames 61 c.
- the grille shutter unit 3 of the present embodiment is configured such that the outer frames 61 a , 61 b , 61 c and the first and second center frames 63 , 64 are provided, not providing the frame member to support the plural shutters 30 , and the plural shutters 30 are supported by attaching the frames 61 a , 61 b , 61 c , 63 , 64 to the high-rigidity portions, in the circumferential direction, of the frame-shaped shroud 2 (for example, a portion of the shroud upper 21 which corresponds to the latch housing portion 9 in the vehicle width direction or its vicinity and portions of the shroud sides 23 , 23 which respectively correspond to the mount devices 5 and the bracket attaching-face portions 26 in the vehicle width direction or their vicinity), the support rigidity of the shutters 30 can be secured, reducing the whole weight of the shroud 2 and grille shutter unit 3 .
- the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but any other various embodiments are applicable.
- the shutter shafts 34 i , 34 o are provided on the side of the shutters 30 and the frames 60 ( 61 a , 61 b , 61 c , 63 , 64 ) are pivotally supported by the shutter shafts 34 i , 34 o in the above-described embodiment
- these shutter shafts 34 i , 34 o may be provided on the side of the frames 60 ( 61 a , 61 b , 61 c , 63 , 64 ) and the shutters 30 may be pivotally supported by the shutter shafts 34 i , 34 o , for example.
- swing shafts 73 i , 73 o are provided on the side of the first and second swing links 71 , 74 and the shutters 30 are pivotally supported by the swing shafts 73 i , 73 o in the above-described embodiment, these swing shafts 73 i , 73 o may be provided on the side of the shutters 30 and the first and second swing links 71 , 74 may be pivotally supported by the swing shafts 73 i , 73 o , for example.
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Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a grille shutter attaching structure of an automotive vehicle in which a grille shutter unit provided with shutters and a frame pivotally supporting shutter shafts provided at the shutters is attached to a frame-shaped shroud supporting a heat exchanger.
- Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 2014-198509 and 2017-39368, for example, propose some examples of the above-described grille shutter attaching structure of an automotive vehicle. The first patent document discloses a structure in which a frame-shaped (square-tubal shaped) unit frame portion (33) is provided at a grille shutter unit (30) (see the paragraph [0037] and FIG. 11 of the first patent document) and the grille shutter unit (30) is assembled to a front-side lower portion of a shroud member (20) (see the paragraph [0053] and FIGS. 6, 8, 9 and 11 of the first patent document).
- The second patent document discloses another structure in which a shutter frame member (53) is formed in a frame shape (square-tubal shape) (see the paragraph
- and FIGS. 5 and 6 of the second patent document) and the shutter frame member (53) is attached from a front face of a shroud member (28) (see the paragraph [0078] and FIGS. 2-5 and 7 of the second patent document).
- As exemplified in the above-described first and second patent documents, the grille shutter unit is generally configured such that the frame-shaped frame supporting the shutter shafts provided at the shutters is provided and this frame-shaped frame is attached to a front face portion of the shroud together with the shutters.
- However, since the grille shutter unit provided with the frame is attached such that the grille shutter unit protrudes from the front face portion of the shroud, it may be necessary to provide a frame member which is specially used for the firm (strong) grille shutter against collision which is disclosed in the above-described patent documents. Accordingly, there is a concern that a weight or cost increase may be caused.
- Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a grille shutter attaching structure of an automotive vehicle which can properly achieve weight/cost reduction by eliminating the need for the frame member specially used for the firm grille shutter against the collision.
- The present invention is a grille shutter attaching structure of an automotive vehicle, comprising a frame-shaped shroud supporting a heat exchanger, and a grille shutter unit provided with shutters and a frame pivotally supporting shutter shafts provided at the shutters, wherein the grille shutter unit is attached to the shroud from a back-face side of the shroud at a position located in front of the heat exchanger.
- According to the present invention, any frame member specially used for the firm grille shutters against the collision, which is described above, becomes unnecessary, so that the weight/cost reduction can be properly achieved.
- In an embodiment of the present invention, the grille shutter unit comprises plural split units provided with the shutters which are configured such that the grille shutter unit is split both laterally and vertically, the frame of the grille shutter unit comprises outer frames which are positioned on an outward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the shutters and configured to pivotally support the shutter shafts provided at the outward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the shutters and a center frame which is positioned at a center, in the vehicle width direction, of the grille shutter unit and configured to pivotally support the shutter shafts provided at an inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the shutters, the above-described outer frames are provided for each of the split units on the outward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the shutters, and the above-described center frame is provided for the split units in common at the center, in the vehicle width direction, of the grille shutter unit.
- According to this embodiment, since the frame is configured such that it is attached from a back-face side of the shroud, it is unnecessary that the rigidity of the frame as a whole is made high, compared to a case where the frame is attached from a front side of the shroud. Accordingly, the outer frame can be made independent as the split units, and also the respective split units can be simplified (assembly) as the grille shutter unit by the center frame which serves as a common use for the respective split units.
- In another embodiment of the present invention, the frame-shaped shroud has an opening portion at an inside thereof in an elevational view, a position of an outward edge, in the vehicle width direction, of the opening portion is configured to change in a vertical direction, and a position of an outward edge, in the vehicle width direction, of each of the split units of the grille shutter unit is configured to change in the vertical direction so as to correspond to the positional change of the outward edge of the opening portion.
- According to this embodiment, the plural split units can be simplified as the grille shutter unit by the center frame serving as the common use for the respective split units, allowing changes of the length or the like of the shutters for each split unit.
- In another embodiment of the present invention, the opening portion of the shroud comprises an upper-level opening portion, a middle-level opening portion, and a lower-level opening portion, an outward edge, in the vehicle width direction, of the middle-level opening portion is positioned on the inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of respective outward edges, in the vehicle width direction, of the upper-level and lower-level opening portions, the split units of the grille shutter unit comprise an upper-level unit, a middle-level unit, and a lower-level unit, and an outward edge, in the vehicle width direction, of the middle-level unit is positioned on the inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of respective outward edges, in the vehicle width direction of the upper-level and lower-level units so as to correspond to the inward-side positioning of the outward edge of the middle-level opening portion.
- According to this embodiment, the rigidity against a load generated when the bonnet is closed can be secured by increasing the rigidity of a side part of the shroud, in particular, a middle portion, in the vertical direction, of the side part of the shroud, and also the performance of the heat exchanger can be increased by providing the opening portion (the middle-level opening portion) at this middle portion.
- In another embodiment of the present invention, the center frame of the grille shutter unit is configured to connect an upper-side width-directional center of the shroud and a lower-side width-directional center of the shroud.
- According to this embodiment, the strength, in the vertical direction, of the shroud can be reinforced by the center frame.
- In another embodiment of the present invention, a latch housing portion where a latch provided at a bonnet is provided is formed at an upper portion of a connection portion of a shroud upper of the shroud where the center frame of the grille shutter unit is connected such that the latch housing portion protrudes toward the opening portion, and a second center frame which is configured to pivotally support a central-side end portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the shutter shafts is arranged on both sides, in the vehicle width direction, of the latch housing portion independently from the center frame.
- According to this embodiment, the shroud upper can be reinforced by the latch housing portion, and also the shutters provided on the both sides, in the vehicle width direction, of the latch housing portion can be opened or closed properly by making the second center frame independent from the center frame.
- In another embodiment of the present invention, both shroud sides of the shroud which are provided on both sides, in the vehicle width direction, of the shroud are configured to have higher rigidity than a shroud lower of the shroud, and the grille shutter unit and the heat exchanger are attached to the both shroud sides of the shroud.
- According to this embodiment, the grille shutter unit and the heat exchanger can be firmly supported at the shroud sides having the higher rigidity than the shroud lower, and also the weight of the shroud can be properly reduced because it becomes unnecessary to reinforce a whole circumference of the frame-shaped shroud.
- In another embodiment of the present invention, a boxy-shaped portion which protrudes in a boxy shape from a forming face of the shroud side is provided at a portion of the shroud side which corresponds to a heat-exchanger mount portion where the heat exchanger is attached and supported in a vertical direction, and a shutter support portion which supports the grille shutter unit is provided at a side portion of the boxy-shaped portion.
- According to this embodiment, the rigidity of the heat-exchanger mount portion and the shutter support portion can be increased by using the boxy-shaped portion provided at the shroud side.
- In another embodiment of the present invention, another shutter support portion which supports the grille shutter unit is provided below the heat-exchanger mount portion, and a cross stay which connects the both-side shroud sides of the shroud in the vehicle width direction is provided.
- According to this embodiment, the grille shutter unit can be firmly supported by the shutter support portion which is provided below the heat-exchanger mount portion and reinforced by the cross stay as well.
- In another embodiment of the present invention, the grille shutter unit comprises an outer frame which is provided to extend in a vertical direction and pivotally support the shutter shafts which are provided at outward ends, in the vehicle width direction, of the shutters, the outer frame comprises plural split frames which are configured such that the outer frame is split vertically, and a bracket for attaching the shroud to a bumper beam is provided between an upper-level outer frame which is located at an uppermost position and a lower-level outer frame which is located at a lowermost position.
- According to this embodiment, the weight can be reduced by configuring the grille shutter unit to comprise the plural vertically-split outer frames, and also the support rigidity of the grille shutter can be secured by the shroud (shroud side) by providing the bracket between the upper-level outer frame and the lower-level outer frame.
- Other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which refers to the accompanying drawings.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a grille shutter attaching structure of an embodiment of the present invention, when viewed from a forward side. -
FIG. 2 is a back view of the grille shutter attaching structure of the present embodiment in a state where a radiator and a condenser are detached. -
FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a grille shutter unit of the present embodiment. -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an upper portion and a central portion, in a vertical direction, of a right side of a shroud of the present embodiment. -
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a central portion, in a vehicle width direction, of the grille shutter unit of the present embodiment, when viewed from the forward side. -
FIG. 6A is an enlarged view of a major part of a first center frame and its surrounding portion ofFIG. 2 , andFIG. 6B is an enlarged perspective view showing the major part, when viewed from an arrow A inFIG. 6A and a paper front side. -
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line A-A ofFIG. 2 . -
FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line B-B ofFIG. 2 . -
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line C-C ofFIG. 2 . -
FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line D-D ofFIG. 2 . -
FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a major part, taken along line E-E ofFIG. 2 . -
FIG. 12A is a sectional view of a major part, taken along line F-F ofFIG. 3 , andFIG. 12B is a sectional view of the major part, taken along line G-G ofFIG. 3 . -
FIG. 13A is a sectional view of a major part, taken along line H-H ofFIG. 2 , in a state where shutters are open, andFIG. 13B is a sectional view of the major part, taken along line H-H ofFIG. 2 , in a state where the shutters are closed. -
FIG. 14A is a sectional view of a major part, taken along line I-I ofFIG. 2 , in a state where the shutters are open, andFIG. 14B is a sectional view of the major part, taken along line I-I ofFIG. 2 , in a state where the shutters are closed. - Hereafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described specifically referring to the drawings. In the figures, an arrow F shows a forward side of a vehicle, an arrow OUT shows an outward side, in a vehicle width direction, of the vehicle (vehicle rightward side), an arrow IN shows an inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the vehicle (vehicle leftward side), and an arrow U shows an upward side of the vehicle.
- As shown in
FIGS. 1-3 , a grilleshutter attaching structure 1 of an automotive vehicle of the present embodiment comprises a rectangular frame-shaped shroud 2 and agrille shutter unit 3 which is fixed to theshroud 2. Herein, since theshroud 2 and thegrille shutter unit 3 of the present embodiment are respectively configured to be substantially symmetrical, a right-side part of the grilleshutter attaching structure 1 will be described. - The
shroud 2 is configured in a rectangular frame shape to hold aradiator 4 and acondenser 45 as heat exchangers (seeFIGS. 8-11 ) and introduce traveling air flowing down from the vehicle forward side toward theradiator 4. - As shown in
FIGS. 4-9 , in particularFIGS. 4 and 7 , a pair of bumper beam attaching brackets 6 (hereafter, referred to as the “brackets 6”) are attached to right-and-left both sides of theshroud 2, and theshroud 2 is connected to abumper beam 7 via the brackets 6. Illustration of the brackets 6 and thebumper beam 7 is omitted inFIG. 1 , and illustration of thebumper beam 7 is omitted inFIG. 4 . - The
bumper beam 7 comprises abase plate 7 a which has a hat-shaped cross section and aclosing plate 7 b which is of a plate shape as shown inFIGS. 7-10 , and extends in the vehicle width direction. Thebumper beam 7 is attached to front ends of a pair of front side frames which extend in a longitudinal direction on right-and-left both sides of an engine room via attaching plates and crash cans, which are not illustrated. Theshroud 2 is arranged in a roughly vertical position at a location which is positioned behind thebumper beam 7 and between a pair of right-and-left crash cans (not illustrated). - As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2 , theshroud 2 comprises a shroud upper 21 which extends in the vehicle width direction and forms an upper side of its rectangular frame shape, a shroud lower 22 which forms a lower side of its rectangular frame shape, a pair of right-and-left shroud sides 23, 23 which form right-and-left sides of its rectangular frame shape and connect right-and-left both ends of the shroud upper 21 and the shroud lower 22 in the vertical direction, and has a rectangular opening portion 8 (8 a, 8 b, 8 c) which penetrates in the longitudinal direction at an inside, in an elevational view, thereof. - As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 8 , acenter stay 24 which is provided to extend in the vertical direction and connect a forward side of a central portion, in a width direction, of the shroud upper 21 (hereafter, referred to as a “upper-side width-directional center 21M of theshroud 2”) and a forward side of a central portion, in the width direction, of the shroud lower 22 (hereafter, referred to as a “lower-side width-directional center 22M of theshroud 2”) is formed integrally at theshroud 2. - Further, cross stays 25 a, 25 b (an upper-side cross stay 25 a and a lower-side cross stay 25 b) which extend in the vehicle width direction and connect respective forward sides of upper-and-lower portions of the pair of right-and-left shroud sides 23, 23 are formed integrally at the
shroud 2. - As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2 , the opening portion 8 is partitioned, by thecenter stay 24 and the cross stays 25 a, 25 b, into six parts. Specifically, the opening portion 8 is partitioned into right-and-left upper-level opening portions level opening portions level opening portions - As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 4 , an outward edge 8 bo, in the vehicle width direction, of the middle-level opening portion 8 b is positioned on an inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of respective outward edges 8 ao, 8 co, in the vehicle width direction, of the upper-level opening portion 8 a and the lower-level opening portion 8 c. Accordingly, awide portion 29 which protrudes toward the middle-level opening portion 8 b is formed at a portion, in the vertical direction, of theshroud side 23 which is located on the inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of an attachment position 26 (a bracket attaching-face portion 26, which will be described later) of the bracket 6 (seeFIGS. 1 and 4 ). - As shown in
FIG. 1 , thecenter stay 24 is configured such that its lower part is wider than its upper part. Specifically, a portion of the center stay 24 which corresponds to the lower-level opening portion 8 c in the vertical direction is wider than respective portions of the center stay 24 which correspond to the middle-level opening portion 8 b and the upper-level opening portion 8 a in the vertical direction. - As shown in
FIGS. 1, 4 and 7 , the bracket attaching-face portion 26 is formed at a front face of a central portion, in the vertical direction, of theshroud side 23, where a rear face portion 6 r of the bracket 6 (seeFIGS. 4 and 7 ) is fastened. - Specifically, as shown in
FIG. 7 , insertion holes 26 a for bolts B1 to be inserted therethrough are formed at upper and lower portions of the bracket attaching-face portion 26, and penetration (through)holes 6 a are formed at the rear face portion 6 r of the bracket 6 at respective positions which correspond to the insertion holes 26 a. Collar nuts N are previously inserted into the upper-and-lower insertion holes 26 a, 26 a. Fasteningportions 26 c are constituted by inserting the bolts B1 into the penetration holes 6 a and the collar nuts N inserted into the insertion holes 26 a from the vehicle forward side, whereby the bracket 6 is fixedly fastened to the bracket attaching-face portion 26. - As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 4 , a front face of theshroud 2 is configured such that respectiveperipheral edges level opening portion 8 a and the lower-level opening portion 8 c protrude forward relative to aperipheral edge 27 b of the middle-level opening portion 8 b. - As shown in
FIGS. 1, 4, 8-10 , ahousing recess portion 28 for housing a rear portion of thebumper beam 7 is formed at a central portion, in the vertical direction, of the front face of theshroud 2 which is located on the inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the pair of right-and-left bracket attaching-face portions housing recess portion 28 of the present embodiment comprises a recess-portionupper wall 28 a which slants such that its front side is positioned at a higher level than its rear side, a recess-portionlower wall 28 b which slants such that its front side is positioned at a lower level than its rear side, and a recess-portionrear wall 28 c which vertically connects respective rear ends of thesewalls housing recess portion 28 is configured in a recess shape such that its forward side opens. The recess-portionupper wall 28 a is formed at the upper-side cross stay 25 a, the recess-portionlower wall 28 b is formed at the lower-side cross stay 25 b, and the middle-level opening portion 8 b is formed at the recess-portionrear wall 28 c. - Herein, as shown in
FIG. 11 , areservoir tank 41 is formed integrally with an outward portion, in the vehicle width direction, of theradiator 4, and a rod-shapedprotrusion portion 42 which protrudes outward from thereservoir tank 41 is provided. Theprotrusion portion 42 is configured to have a square-shaped cross section (seeFIG. 7 ). - As shown in
FIG. 11 , asupport piece 43 for supporting thecondenser 45 is integrally formed with a front portion of thereservoir tank 41 of theradiator 4. Areservoir tank 46 is integrally formed with at the outward side, in the vehicle width direction, of thecondenser 45 as well, and an outward side, in the vehicle width direction, of thereservoir tank 46 and the above-describedsupport piece 43 are connected by a bracket 44. - As shown in
FIGS. 7 and 11 , theradiator 4 is supported bymount devices mount devices protrusion portions 42, and eachmount device 5 comprises amount rubber 51 which is a resilient member, such as a rubber, and asupport bracket 52 which holds themount rubber 51 and attaches thismount rubber 51 to theshroud side 23. Ahole portion 52 a, which has a square-shaped cross section and into which theprotrusion portion 42 is fitted, is formed at a central portion of themount rubber 51. - As shown in
FIG. 11 , thesupport bracket 52 comprises a tubal-shapedhold portion 53 which holds theprotrusion portion 42 via themount rubber 51 and an attachingpiece 55 which extends outward from a rear portion of thehold portion 53 and is attached, from the rearward side, to a rear-end flange portion 54 which extends from a rear end of theshroud side 23 to an outward end, in the vehicle width direction, of theshroud side 23 by fastening means of a bolt B2 and others, which are formed integrally. - In the
mount devices 5 of the right-and-left shroud sides 23, theradiator 4 and thecondenser 45 are supported at right-and-left both sides of theshroud 2 via the twomount devices 5 by the right-and-leftprotrusion portions 42 being holed. - As shown in
FIGS. 7 and 11 , a boxy-shapedportion 10 which protrudes in a boxy shape (squarely-cylindrical shape) from the front face of theshroud side 23 is integrally formed with a portion of theshroud side 23 which corresponds to themount device 5 in the vertical direction. - As shown in
FIGS. 4, 7 and 11 , the boxy-shapedportion 10 is formed in the squarely-cylindrical shape by anupper wall portion 11, alower portion 12, and bothside wall portions 13 o, 13 i, which are further integrally formed with afront wall portion 14 which covers a front end of an inside space of theupper wall portion 11, thelower wall portion 12, and theside wall portions 13 o, 13 i. At thefront wall portion 14 is provided anattachment hole 14 a for attaching a protector of an airbag sensor, not illustrated (seeFIGS. 4 and 11 ). - As shown in
FIGS. 4, 7 and 11 , theupper wall portion 11 and the outward-side side wall portion 13 o protrude rearward beyond the bracket attaching-face portion 26 (seeFIG. 4 ) of theshroud side 23, and a rib 15 (seeFIG. 7 ) which protrudes rearward beyond the bracket attaching-face portion 26 is integrally formed at a position located slightly below a rear end of thelower wall portion 12. -
Respective protrusion portions 11 a, 13 oa of theupper wall portion 11 and the outward-side side wall portion 13 c and therib 15 are configured as a base portion of the above-described boxy-shaped portion 10 (seeFIGS. 4, 7 and 11 ). - The tubal-shaped
hold portion 53 of thesupport bracket 52 is provided to be fit into a space of the base portion of the boxy-shaped portion 10 (seeFIG. 7 ), whereby the boxy-shapedportion 10 is also configured as a reinforcing portion to reinforce the support rigidity of theradiator 4 and thecondenser 45 by themount device 5. - As shown in
FIG. 1 , theshroud 2 includes a shroudupper member 17 which is attached to an upper face of the shroud upper 21 and theshroud side members upper member 17. InFIG. 4 , illustration of the shroudupper member 17 and theshroud side member 18 is omitted. - The shroud
upper member 17 is connected to front end portions of apron members, not illustrated, via theshroud side members upper member 17 and theshroud side members - A pedestal (seat)
portion 18 a where a stopper rubber, not illustrated, which is a shock absorbing member to absorb closing shock (closing impact) of a bonnet (engine hood), is placed is provided at an inward side of the upper face of each of theshroud side members shroud side member 18 which corresponds to theshroud side 23 in the vehicle width direction (seeFIG. 1 ). - Further, at a central portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the shroud
upper member 17 is formed apenetration hole 17 a through which a striker (not illustrated) provided at the bonnet passes. - As shown in
FIG. 1 , adownward extension portion 21 a is integrally formed at a front side of a central portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the shroud upper 21 which is positioned below thepenetration hole 17 a of the shroudupper member 17 such that thedownward extension portion 21 a extends downward from a lower face of the shroud upper 21 and protrudes toward the right-and-left both-side upper-level opening portions - A latch housing portion 9 (pocket portion) which houses a latch, not illustrated, is provided at the front side of the central portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the shroud upper 21 including the above-described
downward extension portion 21 a. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 8 , thislatch housing portion 9 comprises alower wall portion 9 a, right-and-left both-sideside wall portions rear wall portion 9 c such that thelatch housing portion 9 is configured in a recess shape (pocket shape) which opens forward and upward. - Thereby, the bonnet is configured to engage with a vehicle body when the striker provided at the bonnet engages with the latch housed in the
latch housing portion 9, passing through thepenetration hole 17 a, when the bonnet is closed. - As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 8 , an upper end of thecenter stay 24 is integrally connected to a central portion, in the vehicle width direction, of thelower wall portion 9 a of thelatch housing portion 9, and thelatch housing portion 9 is configured to be wider than the center stay 24 (at least an upper portion of the center stay 24) (seeFIG. 1 ). - Next, the
grille shutter unit 3 will be described. As shown inFIGS. 1, 2, 8-11 , thegrille shutter unit 3 of the present embodiment is attached to theshroud 2 such that it does not protrude beyond theshroud 2 in the elevational view from its back-face side and a forward side of theradiator 4 and thecondenser 45. - As shown in
FIG. 3 , thegrille shutter unit 3 which comprises plural (six, in the present embodiment) splitunits 3 a-3 c, i.e., upper-level units level units level units - The
grille shutter unit 3 comprisesplural shutters 30 which extend in the vehicle width direction, an actuator (driving actuator) 31 (seeFIGS. 3 and 8 ) which drives opening/closing (swinging) of theshutters 30, and a swing link 70 (71, 74) (seeFIG. 2 ) which transmits a driving force of theactuator 31 to theshutters 30, and a frame 60 (61 a, 61 b, 61 c, 63, 64) which is attached on the side of theshroud 2 and holds theshutters 30 and theswing link 70. Theshutters 30, theswing link 70, and theframe 60 are provided at thesplit units 3 a-3 c as basic structural elements. - The
plural shutters 30 are respectively arranged in the vertical direction for thesplit units 3 a-3 c. In the present embodiment, as shown inFIG. 3 , four of the shutters are provided at the upper-level unit 3 a, two of the shutters are provided at the middle-level unit 3 b, and five of the shutters are provided at the lower-level unit 3 c. Opening/closing of the upper-level, middle-level, lower-level opening portions - Herein, the four
shutters 30 provided at the upper-level unit 3 a are set as an upper-level shutter 30 a as shown inFIG. 1 , wherein first—fourth upper-level shutters 30 a 1-30 a 4 are set in order from the top as shown inFIG. 3 . Likewise, the twoshutters 30 provided at the middle-level unit 3 b are set as a middle-level shutter 30 b, wherein first, second middle-level shutters 30b b 2 are set in order from the top. The fiveshutters 30 provided at the lower-level unit 3 c are set as a lower-level shutter 30 c, wherein first—fifth lower-level shutters 30 c 1-30c 5 are set in order from the top. - Further, as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 10 , the upper-level shutter 30 a and the lower-level shutter 30 c are positioned slightly in front of the middle-level shutter 30 b in accordance with the above-described structure in which the respectiveperipheral edges level opening portion 8 a and the lower-level opening portion 8 c protrude forward relative to theperipheral edge 27 b of the middle-level opening portion 8 b (seeFIG. 1 ). - While the opening portion 8 of the
shroud 2 is configured, as described above, such that the outward edge 8 bo of the middle-level opening portion 8 b is positioned on the inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the outward edges 8 ao, 8 co of the upper-level opening portion 8 a and the lower-level opening portion 8 c (seeFIGS. 1 and 4 ), theshutters 30 are configured accordingly, as shown inFIGS. 1-3 , such that anoutward edge 30 bo of the middle-level shutter 30 b is positioned on the inward side, in the vehicle width direction, ofoutward edges 30 ao, 30 co of the upper-level shutter 30 a and the lower-level shutter 30 c. - Accordingly, the
respective shutters level units 3 a-3 c are configured such that respective lengths, in the vehicle width direction, thereof are equal or slightly shorter than respective opening lengths, in the vehicle width direction, of the upper-level, middle-level, and lower-level opening portions FIGS. 1 and 2 ). - As shown in
FIG. 3 , theshutters 30 comprise shutter shafts 34 o which protrude outward from outward edges, in the vehicle width direction, thereof andshutter shafts 34 i which protrude inward from inward edges, in the vehicle width direction, thereof, and theseshutter shafts 34 o, 34 i extend coaxially in the vehicle width direction. - As shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3 , theframe 60 comprisesouter frames side shutter shafts 34 i of theshutters 30 and center frames 63, 64 which pivotally support the inward-side shutter shafts 34 i of theshutters 30. As shown inFIGS. 2, 3 and 5 , the center frames 63, 64 comprise thefirst center frame 63 and thesecond frames first center frame 63. - The
first center frame 63 is provided as a common frame to all of thesplit units 3 a-3 c, and attached to a back face of the center stay 24 such that thefirst center frame 63 matches thecenter stay 24 in the vehicle width direction at the central portion, in the vehicle width direction, of theshroud 2 as shown inFIGS. 1, 2 and 8 . - As shown in
FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6A , thefirst center frame 63 extends in the vertical direction between an upper end and a lower end of thecenter stay 24, and comprises a lower-sidewide portion 63 w and anarrow portion 63 s which is positioned above thewide portion 63 w, corresponding to the center stay 24 (seeFIG. 3 ). - As shown in
FIGS. 3, 5 and 8 , anactuator housing portion 65 which houses theactuator 31 is provided at a lower side of thefirst center frame 63. In the present embodiment, all of theshutters 30 provided at thegrille shutter unit 3 are directly or indirectly driven by thesingle actuator 31 for opening/closing of theshutters 30. - The
actuator housing portion 65 is provided at a portion of thewide portion 63 w of thefirst center frame 63 which corresponds, in the vertical direction, to the lower-level opening portion 8 c of theshroud 2, and theactuator 31 is housed in theactuator housing portion 65, so that theactuator 31 is arranged at a back-face side of the lower part of the center stay 24 (seeFIG. 8 ). - Specifically, as shown in
FIGS. 3, 5, 6A and 8 , theactuator housing portion 65 comprises afront wall portion 65 a which covers a lower part of the actuator 31 from the forward side at thefirst center frame 63, arear wall portion 65 b which covers a back-face side of an upper part of theactuator 31, andside wall portions FIG. 5 ). - Herein, as shown in
FIG. 12B which is the sectional view of the major part, taken along line G-G ofFIG. 3 , at an upper part of theactuator 31 are provided motor shafts (drive shafts) 31 a, 31 a which protrude outward from its right-and-left both sides, and theactuator 31 is fixed to the first center frame 63 (seeFIG. 8 ) such that the right-and-leftmotor shafts shutter shaft 34 i of the lower-levelsecond shutter 30 c 2 (hereafter, referred to as “lower-levelsecond shutter shaft 340 i”) in the side view, that is, themotor shafts second shutter shaft 340 i are coaxial (seeFIG. 12B ). - Further, as shown in
FIGS. 2, 6A and 8 , the above-describedfirst center frame 63 is integrally attached to the center stay 24 such that the upper-side width-directional center 21M of the shroud 2 (i.e., the central portion, in the width direction, of the shroud upper 21) and the lower-side width-directional center 22M of the shroud 2 (i.e., the central portion, in the width direction, of the shroud lower 22) are interconnected by these two. Accordingly, the center stay 24 can secure the rigidity, in the vertical direction, of theshroud 2 together with thefirst center frame 63. Further, since the lower part of thefirst center frame 63 which houses the actuator 31 as a weight object is configured to be wide similarly to thecenter stay 24, the high rigidity can be secured, and since the upper part of thefirst center frame 63 is integrated with thecenter stay 24, its width can be made as narrow as possible, so that the sufficiently large opening portion can be secured. - Specifically, as shown in
FIG. 3 , plural penetration holes 63 a are formed at thefirst center frame 63 such that these are arranged in the vertical direction. In the present embodiment, as shown inFIGS. 3, 5 and 6 , the penetration holes 63 a comprise at least eight holes which are formed at upper-and-lower parts provided along a central portion, in the vehicle width direction, of thenarrow portion 63 s of thefirst center frame 63, parts which are slightly offset outward from the central portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the upper portion of thewide portion 63 w (upper-and-lower parts of the portion corresponding to the middle-level opening portion 8 b), right-and-left both sides of a central portion (portion corresponding to an upper end of the lower-level opening portion 8 c), in the vertical direction, of thewide portion 63 w, and right-and-left both sides of a lower portion (portion corresponding to an lower portion of the lower-level opening portion 8 c) of thewide portion 63 w. - Meanwhile, as shown in
FIGS. 6A and 8 , screw insertion holes 24 a are formed at portions of the back face of the center stay 24 which respectively correspond to the penetration holes 63 a of thefirst center frame 63 in the elevational view. - As shown in
FIGS. 2 and 6A , tapping screws T are inserted into the screw insertion holes 24 a and the penetration holes 63 a from the back-face side, respectively, whereby ashutter support portion 66 i is configured and thefirst center frame 63 is fixedly fastened to the center stay 24 integrally. - The
first center frame 63 is attached to the upper portion of the center stay 24 which is formed integrally with the central portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the shroud upper 21 at an uppermost shutter support portion 66 ia (seeFIGS. 6A and 8 ) of the plural (eight)shutter support portions 66 i. - That is, the above-described upper-side width-
directional center 21M of theshroud 2 is a portion which corresponds to the central portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the shroud upper 21 and the upper portion of the center stay 24 which includes the uppermost shutter support portion 66 ia (seeFIGS. 2 and 6A ). - Likewise, the
first center frame 63 is attached to the lower portion of the center stay 24 which is formed integrally with the central portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the shroud lower 22 at a lowermost shutter support portion 66 ib (seeFIG. 6A ) of the plural (eight)shutter support portions 66 i. - That is, the above-described lower-side with-
directional center 22M of theshroud 2 is a portion which corresponds to the central portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the shroud lower 22 and the lower portion of the center stay 24 which includes the lowermost shutter support portion 66 ib (seeFIGS. 2 and 6A ). - As shown in
FIGS. 3 and 5 , at respective sides, in the vertical direction, of the right-and-left both sides of thefirst center frame 63 are provided shaft support portions 67 ia, 67 ib, 67 ic which pivotally support therespective shutter shafts 34 i which are provided at the inward side of theshutters 30 of the upper-level, middle-level, and lower-level split units 3 a-3 c. - Specifically, the shaft support portions 67 ia which pivotally support the
shutter shafts 34 i which are provided at the respective inward sides of a third upper-level shutter 30 a 3 and a fourth upper-level shutter 30 a 4 are provided at upper-and-lower portions of thenarrow portion 63 s of thefirst center frame 63. - Further, the shaft support portions 67 ib which pivotally support the
shutter shafts 34 i which are provided at the respective inward sides of the middle-level shutters 30b b 2 are provided at upper-and-lower portions of thewide portion 63 w of thefirst center frame 63 which correspond to the middle-level opening portion 8 b. - Similarly, as shown in
FIGS. 5 and 12A which the sectional view of the major part, taken along line F-F ofFIG. 3 , at upper-and-lower portions of thewide portion 63 w of thefirst center frame 63 which correspond to the lower-level opening portion 8 c are provided the shaft support portions 67 ic which pivotally support theshutter shafts 34 i which are provided at the respective inward sides of the lower-level shutters 30c c 5, except the lower-levelsecond shutter 30c 2. - Herein, as described above, the lower-level
second shutter shaft 340 i is not pivotally supported by thefirst center frame 63, and directly connected to themotor shaft 31 a which protrudes from theactuator 31 provided at the first center frame 63 (seeFIG. 12B ), whereby the lower-levelsecond shutter shaft 340 i is pivotally supported at themotor shaft 31 a on the right-and-left both sides. That is, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 5 , the shaft support portion 67 ic which pivotally supports the lower-levelsecond shutter shaft 340 i is not provided at respective portions of right-and-left side wall portions of thefirst center frame 63 which correspond to the lower-levelsecond shutter shaft 340 i, and a large-diameter penetration hole 63 b which has a larger diameter than the lower-levelsecond shutter shaft 340 i is provided so that the lower-levelsecond shutter shaft 340 i can be allowed to pass through thishole 63 b and connected to themotor shaft 31 a (seeFIGS. 3, 5 and 12B ). - As shown in
FIGS. 2, 3 and 5 , the second center frames 64 are arranged on the both sides, in the vehicle width direction, of thelatch housing portion 9, independently (separately) from thefirst center frame 63, as a part of the upper-level unit 3 a. Eachsecond center frame 64 is provided with shaft support portions 67 ia which pivotally support theshutter shafts 34 i respectively provided at the inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the upper-levelfirst shutter 3 a 1 and the upper-levelsecond shutter 3 a 2. - As shown in
FIGS. 2, 3 and 11 , the above-describedsecond center frame 64 is fixedly fastened from the back-face side of theshroud 2 similarly to thefirst center frame 63. - Specifically, as shown in
FIG. 5 , apenetration hole 64 a is formed at thesecond center frame 64, and a screw penetration (through)hole 22 a is formed at a portion of theshroud 2 which corresponds to thepenetration hole 64 a of thesecond center frame 64. - The
shutter support portion 66 i is constituted by inserting the tapping screw T into thescrew insertion hole 22 a and thepenetration hole 64 a from the back-face side, and thesecond center frame 64 is fixedly fastened to theshroud 2 integrally. - As shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3 , theouter frames outer frames 61 a, the middle-levelouter frames 61 b, and the lower-levelouter frames 61 c which are respectively arranged on the right-and-left both sides, which correspond to the upper-level unit 3 a, the middle-level unit 3 b, and the lower-level unit 3 c. - As shown in
FIG. 3 , shaft support portions 67 oa which pivotally support the shutter shafts 34 o provided at the outward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the upper-level shutters 30 a 1-30 a 4 are provided the upper-and-lower portions of the upper-levelouter frames 61 a. - As shown in the same figure, shaft support portions 67 ob which pivotally support the shutter shafts 34 o provided at the outward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the middle-
level shutters 30b b 2 are provided the upper-and-lower portions of the middle-levelouter frames 61 b. Further, shaft support portions 67 oc which pivotally support the shutter shafts 34 o provided at the outward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the lower-level shutters 30 c 1-30c 5 are provided the upper-and-lower portions of the lower-levelouter frames 61 c. - As shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3 , the above-describedouter frames shroud 2, similarly to the first and second center frames 63, 64. - Specifically, penetration holes 61 d are formed at respective upper-and-lower portions of the upper-level and lower-level
outer frames outer frame 61 b (seeFIG. 3 ). Further, as shown inFIG. 11 , screw penetration holes 22 b are formed at portions of the shroud which correspond to the above-described penetration holes 61 d. Herein, only thescrew penetration hole 22 b which corresponds to theuppermost penetration hole 61 d is illustrated inFIG. 11 . - Moreover, as shown in
FIGS. 2 and 11 , the tapping screws T are inserted into the screw penetration holes 22 b and the penetration holes 61 d from the back-face side, whereby a shutter support portion 66 o is constituted, and the upper-level, middle-level, and lower-levelouter frames shroud 2 from the back-face side integrally. - Thus, as shown in
FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 7 , the above-described bracket 6 (seeFIGS. 4 and 7 ) is attached to the bracket attaching-face portion 26 such that it extends in the vertical direction between the upper-levelouter frame 61 a (seeFIG. 2 ) and the lower-levelouter frame 61 c (see the same figure). - That is, the upper-
side fastening portion 26 c where the bracket 6 is fastened to the bracket attaching-face portion 26 is positioned such that it matches the upper-levelouter frame 61 a in the vertical direction, and the lower-side fastening portion 26 c is provided such that it matches (overlaps) the down-levelouter frame 61 c in the vertical direction (see the same figure). - Further, as shown in
FIGS. 2 and 11 , the upper-most shutter support portion 66 o is provided such that it substantially matches the boxy-shapedportion 10 and themount device 5 in the vertical direction. In other words, the upper-most shutter support portion 66 o is provided at a portion which substantially horizontally extends inward from the inward-sideside wall portion 13 i of the boxy-shapedportion 10 up to a position in front of the outward edge 8 ao of the upper-level opening portion 8 a (seeFIG. 11 ). - Subsequently, the
swing link 70 will be described. As shown inFIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6A , theswing link 70 comprises a pair of right-and-left first swing links 71, 71 which are provided at right-and-left both sides thereof and a pair of right-and-left second swing links 74, 74 which are provided at right-and-left and upward sides of the grille shutter unit 3 (seeFIGS. 2 and 3 ). - As shown in
FIGS. 3, 5, 12A and 12B , the first swing links 71 are arranged between theplural shutters 30 and thefirst center frame 63 in the vehicle width direction on the right-and-left both sides, and positioned on the back-face side relative to theshutter shafts - The pair of right-and-left first swing links 71, 71 are configured, as a part of a center
swing link unit 75, in a crank shape along a shape of the right-and-left side portions of thefirst center frame 63 comprising thenarrow portion 63 s and thewide portion 63 w such that the first swing links 71, 71 are substantially symmetrical (seeFIGS. 3, 5 and 6A ). - That is, as shown in
FIGS. 2, 3, 5, 6A, 8 and 12 , the centerswing link unit 75 comprises the pair of right-and-left first swing links 71, 71 and plural back-face-side connection portions 72 (seeFIG. 6A ) which connect upper-and-lower portions of the first swing links 71, 71 in the vehicle width direction on the back-face side of thefirst center frame 63, which are formed integrally. - As shown in
FIGS. 2, 6A, 6B, 12A, 12B, 13A and 13B ,plural swing shafts 73 i which protrude outward, in the vehicle width direction, from respective outward faces, in the vehicle width direction, of the pair of right-and-left first swing links 71, 71 (seeFIG. 5 ) are pivotally attached to the first swing links 71, 71. Theseswing shafts 73 i are provided in the vertical direction such that theseshafts 73 i correspond to theshutters 30 which are provided in the vertical direction on the outward sides, in the vehicle width direction, of the first swing links 71. Theswing shafts 73 i are pivotally supported at positions of the inward end faces, in the vehicle width direction, of theshutters 30 which are offset from theshutter shafts 34 i (including 340 i) (seeFIGS. 13A, 13B ). - Herein, as shown in
FIGS. 6A, 6B, 13A and 13B , theswing shaft 73 i which is pivotally supported at the lower-levelsecond shutter 30c 2 is set as a lower-levelsecond swing shaft 73 ia. Since the lower-levelsecond shutter shaft 340 i is directly connected to themotor shaft 31 a as described above (seeFIG. 12B ), when theactuator 31 is driven, the driving force of theactuator 31 is transmitted directly to the lower-levelsecond shutter 30c 2, not by way of thefirst swing link 71, so that the lower-levelsecond shutter 30c 2 is driven (swung) for opening/closing. - The lower-level
second swing shaft 73 ia is swung around the lower-levelsecond swing shaft 73 ia in accordance with the driving of the lower-levelsecond shutter 30c 2. Since thefirst swing link 71 is swung in the vertical direction in accordance with the swing of the lower-levelsecond swing shaft 73 ia, theother swing shafts 73 i than the lower-levelsecond swing 73 ia which are pivotally supported at thefirst swing link 71 are swung. - That is, the other shutters 30 (30 a 3, 30 a 4, 30
b b c second shutter 30c 2 which are pivotally supported at thefirst center frame 63 can be swung as well. - For example, the opening/closing of the lower-
level opening portion 8 c by theshutters 30 will be described particularly. In a state where the lower-level shutters 30 c are open as shown inFIG. 13A , thefirst swing link 71 is positioned downward as shown inFIG. 14A , and, for example, when themotor shaft 31 a is rotated counterclockwise by 90 degrees by driving of the actuator 31 from this open state as shown inFIG. 14B (see an arrow d2 inFIG. 14B ), the lower-levelsecond shutter 30c 2 is rotated counterclockwise by 90 degrees around the lower-levelsecond shutter shaft 340 i together with the lower-levelsecond swing shaft 73 ia (see the arrow d2 inFIG. 13B ). - Thus, the lower-level
second shutter 30c 2 is in the closed state as shown inFIG. 13B . At the same time, thefirst swing link 71 is moved upward in accordance with the above-described rotation of the lower-levelsecond swing shaft 73 ia as shown inFIG. 14B (see an arrow du inFIG. 14B ). According to this upward move, therespective swing shafts 73 i of the other lower-level shutters 30c c 5 than the lower-levelsecond shutter shaft 340 i are rotated counterclockwise by 90 degrees (see arrows d1, d3-d5 inFIG. 14B ). Consequently, the lower-level shutters 30c c 5 are in a closed state (see arrows d1, d3-d5 inFIG. 13B ). - As shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3 , the second swing links 74 are arranged at the right-and-left both-side upper-level units 3 a between the upper-level shutters 30 a and the upper-levelouter frames 61 a, and arranged on the back-face side relative to the outward-side shutter shafts 34 o which are respectively provided at the upper-level shutters 30 a. - The right-and-left both-side second swing links 74, 74 are integrally provided with swing shafts 73 o which protrude inward, in the vehicle width direction, from their inward end faces (see
FIG. 2 ), and theswing shafts 73 are provided in the vertical direction so as to correspond to the upper-level unit 30 a. That is, the swing shafts 73 o are attached to the outward end faces, in the vehicle width direction, of theshutters 30 such that the swing shafts 73 o are offset from the shutter shafts 34 o (seeFIG. 3 ) in the vehicle side view, similarly to the above-describedswing shafts 73 i. - Herein, in the upper-
level unit 3 a, when theactuator 31 is driven, the upper-levelthird shutter 30 a 3 and the upper-levelfourth shutter 30 a 4 are swung directly in accordance with the swinging of thefirst swing link 71, whereas the upper-levelfirst shutter 30 a 1 and the upper-levelsecond shutter 30 a 2 are not swung directly because theselinks 30 a 1, 30 a 2 are not directly connected to thefirst swing link 71. - However, since the upper-level
first shutter 30 a 1 and the upper-levelsecond shutter 30 a 2 are connected to the upper-levelthird shutter 30 a 3 and the upper-levelfourth shutter 30 a 4 by way of thesecond swing link 74, the upper-levelfirst shutter 30 a 1 and the upper-levelsecond shutter 30 a 2 can be also swung by way of the second swing links 74 in accordance with the swinging of the upper-levelthird shutter 30 a 3 and the upper-levelfourth shutter 30 a 4. - The present embodiment is the grille
shutter attaching structure 1 of the automotive vehicle, in which thegrille shutter unit 3 which is provided with theshutters 30 and the frame 60 (61 a, 61 b, 61 c, 63, 64) which pivotally supports theshutter shafts 34 i, 34 o provided at theshutters 30 is attached to the frame-shapedshroud 2 which supports theradiator 4 and thecondenser 45 as an heat exchanger, wherein thegrille shutter unit 3 is configured to be attached to theshroud 2 from the back-face side of theshroud 2 at the position located in front of theradiator 4 and the condenser 45 (seeFIGS. 2 and 7-11 ). - According to this structure, any frame member specially used for the
firm grille shutters 30 against the collision becomes unnecessary. - In the present embodiment, the grille shutter unit 3 comprises the split units 3 a-3 c provided with the shutters 30 a, 30 b, 30 c which are configured such that the grille shutter unit 3 is split both laterally and vertically (see
FIGS. 1-3 ), the frame 60 of the grille shutter unit 30 comprises the outer frames 61 a, 61 b, 61 c which are positioned on the outward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the shutters 30 and pivotally support the shutter shafts 34 c provided at the outward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the shutters 30 (seeFIGS. 2 and 3 ) and the center frames 63, 64 (the first center frame 63 and the center frame 64) which pivotally support the shutter shafts 34 i provided at the inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the shutters 30 (seeFIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 11 ), the outer frames 61 a, 61 b, 61 c are provided for each of the split units 3 a-3 c on the outward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the shutters 30 (see the same figures), and the first center frame 63 of the above-described center frames 63, 64 is provided for the split units 3 a-3 c in common at the center, in the vehicle width direction, of the grille shutter unit 3 (seeFIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 8 ). - According to this structure, since the
frame 60 is configured such that it is attached from the back-face side of theshroud 2, it is unnecessary that the rigidity of theframe 60 as a whole is made so high, compared to a case where theframe 60 is attached from a front side of theshroud 2. Accordingly, it becomes unnecessary to provide the above-described frame member, so that the weight reduction of thegrille shutter unit 3 can be achieved. - Further, the
respective split units 3 a-3 c can be simplified (assembly) as thegrille shutter unit 3 by the center frames 63, 64 without providing conventionally the frame member, so that the performance of assembling to theshroud 2 can be secured. - In the present embodiment, the frame-shaped
shroud 2 has the opening portion 8 (8 a, 8 b, 8 c) at its inside in the elevational view, the position of the outward edges 8 ao, 8 bo, 8 co, in the vehicle width direction, of the opening portion 8 is configured to change in the vertical direction (seeFIGS. 1 and 4 ), and the position of theoutward edges 30 ao, 30 bo, 30 co, in the vehicle width direction, of each of thesplit units 3 a-3 c of thegrille shutter unit 3, that is, the position of theoutward edges 30 ao, 30 bo, 30 co, in the vehicle width direction, of theshutters split units 3 a-3 c, is configured to change in the vertical direction so as to correspond to the positional change of the outward edges 8 ao, 8 bo, 8 co of the opening portion 8 (seeFIGS. 1-3 ). - According to this structure, since the
plural split units 3 a-3 c is simplified (assembly) as thegrille shutter unit 3 by the center frames 63, 64 serving as the common use for therespective split units 3 a-3 c, unlikely to the conventional frame member, therespective split units 3 a-3 c can be configured such that the position of the outward ends 30 ao, 30 bo, 30 co, in the vehicle width direction, of thesplit units 3 a-3 c matches the shape (the position, in the vehicle width direction, of the outward edges 8 ao, 8 bo, 8 co) of the opening portion 8 of the frame-shapedshroud 2. - That is, since the
grille shutter unit 3 is not provided with any frame member and therefore thesplit units 3 a-3 c do not receive any restriction from the frame member in their shape, such as their length in the vehicle width direction, thesplit units 3 a-3 c can flexibly correspond to the shape of theshroud 2. - In the present embodiment, the opening portion 8 of the shroud 2 comprises the upper-level opening portion 8 a, the middle-level opening portion 8 b, and the lower-level opening portion 8 c, the outward edge 8 bo, in the vehicle width direction, of the middle-level opening portion 8 b is positioned on the inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the respective outward edges 8 ao, 8 co, in the vehicle width direction, of the upper-level and lower-level opening portions 8 a, 8 c (see
FIGS. 1 and 2 ), the split units 3 a-3 c of the grille shutter unit 3 comprise the upper-level unit 3 a, the middle-level unit 3 b, and the lower-level unit 3 c, and the outward edge 30 bo, in the vehicle width direction, of the middle-level unit 3 b (the middle-level shutter 30 b) is positioned on the inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the respective outward edges 30 ao, 30 co, in the vehicle width direction, of the upper-level and lower-level units 3 a, 3 c (the upper-level and lower-level shutters 30 a, 30 c) so as to correspond to the inward-side positioning of the outward edge 8 bo of the middle-level opening portion 8 b (seeFIGS. 1-3 ). - Since a load which is generated when the bonnet is closed is transmitted from an upper portion of the
shroud 2 to thebumper beam 7 via the bracket 6 at the middle portion, in the vertical direction, of theshroud 2, the middle portion, in the vertical direction, of theshroud 2 is also required to have the rigidity against the load of the bonnet closing. - Herein, by configuring the structure such that the outward edge 8 bo, in the vehicle width direction, of the middle-
level opening portion 8 b is positioned on the inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the respective outward edges 8 ao, 8 co, in the vehicle width direction, of the upper-level and lower-level opening portions wide portion 29 protruding toward the middle-level opening portion 8 b at the middle portions, in the vertical direction, of each of the right-and-left both sides of the shroud 2) (seeFIGS. 1 and 4 ), the rigidity of the middle portion, in the vertical direction, of theshroud 2 can be secured, increasing the performance of the heat exchanger by providing the middle-level opening portion 8 c at the middle portion, in the vertical direction, of theshroud 2 as well. - Further, according to this structure, since the rigidity of the middle portion, in the vertical direction, of each of the right-and-left both sides of the
shroud 2 is increased, any additional frame member can be further unnecessary. - Herein, in the present embodiment, the bracket 6 is attached to the bracket attaching-
face portion 26, in addition to providing thewide portion 29 at the middle portion, in the vertical direction, of each of the right-and-left both sides of theshroud 2, so that the rigidity of the middle portion, in the vertical direction, of each of the right-and-left both sides of theshroud 2 is further increased. - Further, in the present embodiment, the
mount device 5 as the heat-exchanger mount portion is provided at the upper portion of theshroud side 23 and also thelatch housing portion 9 is provided at the middle portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the shroud upper 21, themount device 5 and thelatch housing portion 9 being configured in the boxy shape, whereby the rigidity of the upper portion of theshroud 2 is increased. - Thereby, since the load of the bonnet closing is transmitted from the upper portion of the
shroud 2 to thebumper beam 7 via the bracket 6 at the middle portion, in the vertical direction, of theshroud 2, the rigidity of the portion which extends from the upper portion of theshroud 2 to the middle portion, in the vertical direction, of each of the right-and-left both sides of theshroud 2 against the load of the bonnet closing can be secured. - Herein, since the load of the bonnet closing and the like are not directly applied to the lower portion of the
shroud 2 including the shroud lower 22, the weight of theshroud 2 can be reduced by setting the rigidity to be lower than the upper portion and the middle portion. - In the present embodiment, the
first center frame 63 of the center frames 63, 64 connect the upper-side width-directional center 21M (see the imaginary line inFIG. 2 ) of theshroud 2 and the lower-side width-directional center 22M (see the imaginary line inFIG. 2 ) of the shroud 2 (seeFIGS. 2, 6A and 8 ). - According to this structure, the strength, in the vertical direction, of the
shroud 2 can be reinforced by the center frames 63, 64. - In the present embodiment, the latch housing portion 9 (pocket portion) where the latch, not illustrated, which is provided at the bonnet is provided is formed at the upper portion of the connection portion of the shroud upper 21 where the
first center frame 63 is connected (that is, the uppermost shutter support portion 66 ia of the first center frame 63 (seeFIGS. 2 and 8A )) such that thelatch housing portion 9 protrudes toward the upper-level opening portion 8 a (seeFIG. 1 ), and the second center frames 64 which pivotally support theshutter shafts 34 i provided at the inward ends, in the vehicle width direction, of the upper-level shutters 30 a are arranged on the both sides, in the vehicle width direction, of thelatch housing portion 9 independently from the first center frame 63 (seeFIGS. 2 and 3 ). - According to the above-described structure, since the
second center frame 64 is configured to be formed integrally with thefirst center frame 63 via the upper-levelouter frame 61 a and the like, thegrille shutter unit 3 can be attached to theshroud 2 as an assembled unit. - Specifically, by providing the
latch housing portion 9 at the shroud upper 21 as described above, the central portion, in the vehicle width direction, of the shroud upper 21 can be reinforced. Moreover, since the second center frames 64, 64 provided on the both sides of the shroud upper 21 are configured to be independent from thefirst center frame 63, theseframes latch housing portion 9, so that the upper-levelfirst shutter 3 a 1 and the upper-levelsecond shutter 3 a 2 can be supported by the second center frames 64, 64 as well. - That is, the above-described structure can flexibly correspond to the shape of the
shroud 2 provided with thelatch housing portion 9 by providing the second center frames 64, 64 which are independent from thefirst center frame 63, not by providing the conventional type of single frame member which support all of theshutters 30. - In the present embodiment, the both shroud sides 23, 23 which are provided on the both sides, in the vehicle width direction, of the
shroud 2 are configured to have the higher rigidity than the shroud lower 22, and thegrille shutter unit 3, theradiator 4, and thecondenser 45 are attached to the both shroud sides 23, 23 (seeFIGS. 7 and 11 ). - According to this structure, since the portion of the
shroud 2 where thegrille shutter unit 3 is attached requires the rigidity for supporting thegrille shutter unit 3 and also the portion of theshroud 2 where theradiator 4 and thecondenser 45 are attached requires the rigidity for supporting thesemembers grille shutter unit 3 and theradiator 4 are positioned at theshroud side 23 which has the higher rigidity than the shroud lower 22 (see the shutter support portion 66 o inFIGS. 2 and 11 and themount device 5 inFIG. 11 ). - Thereby, the above-described members can be firmly attached to the frame-shaped
shroud 2, without reinforcing the whole circumference of theshroud 2, so that the weight of theshroud 2 can be properly reduced. - Specifically, the
shroud 2 is configured such that the boxy-shapedportion 10 is provided and the bracket 6 is attached to the bracket attaching-face portion 26 (seeFIG. 4 ). - Further, the outward edge 8 bo, in the vehicle width direction, of the middle-
level opening portion 8 b is positioned on the inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the respective outward edges 8 ao, 8 co, in the vehicle width direction, of the upper-level opening portion 8 a and the lower-level opening portion 8 c, and according to this structure, thewide portion 29 which protrudes toward the middle-level opening portion 8 b is formed at the portion, in the vertical direction, of theshroud side 23 which is located on the inward side, in the vehicle width direction, of the attachment position 26 (the bracket attaching-face portion 26) of the bracket 6 (seeFIGS. 1, 2 and 4 ). Thereby, the right-and-left both-side shroud sides 23, 23 can be configured to have the high rigidity than the shroud lower 22 without particularly reinforcing the shroud sides 23, 23, and thegrille shutter unit 3 and theradiator 4 are so attached to the shroud sides 23, 23 having the high rigidity that thesemembers - In the present embodiment, the boxy-shaped
portion 10 which protrudes in the boxy shape from the forming face of theshroud side 23 is provided at the portion of theshroud side 23 which corresponds to themount device 5 as the heat-exchanger mount portion where theradiator 4 is attached and supported in the vertical direction (seeFIGS. 1, 4, 7 and 11 ), and the shutter support portion 66 o which supports thegrille shutter unit 3 is provided at the side portion 13 o of the boxy-shaped portion 10 (seeFIGS. 2 and 11 ). - According to this structure, by providing the boxy-shaped
portion 10 at the portion of theshroud side 23 which corresponds to themount device 5 in the vertical direction, the rigidity of themount device 5 can be increased, and also the rigidity of the shutter support portion 66 o can be increased by providing the shutter support portion 66 o at the side portion 13 o of the boxy-shapedportion 10. - Moreover, the boxy-shaped
portion 10 is the pedestal (seat) for attaching the protector of the airbag sensor, so that the rigidity of themount device 5 and the shutter support portion 66 o can be increased properly by utilizing this existing member as an auxiliary-parts attaching pedestal (seat) which is configured in the boxy shape to have the higher rigidity than any other portion, without providing an additional reinforcing means. - In the present embodiment, the shutter support portions 66 o are provided below the
mount devices 5 as well (seeFIG. 2 ), and the cross stays 25 a, 25 b (the upper-side cross stay 25 a and the lower-side cross stay 25 b) which connect the right-and-left both-side shroud sides 23, 23 in the vehicle width direction are provided (seeFIGS. 1 and 2 ). - According to this structure, a burden of supporting the
grille shutter unit 3 can be dispersed (reduced) by the shutter support portions 66 o by providing the shutter support portions 66 o below themount devices 5, additionally beside themount devices 5. Further, while the rigidity is required at the respective portions of the shroud sides 23, 23 which are positioned below themound devices 5 because the shutter support portions 66 o provided below themount devices 5 support thegrille shutter unit 3, the rigidity of these respective portions can be properly increased by the cross stays 25 a, 25 b. - In the present embodiment, the
grille shutter unit 3 comprises theouter frames FIGS. 2, 3 and 11 ), theouter frames shroud 2 to thebumper beam 7 are provided between the upper-levelouter frames 61 a which are located at the uppermost positions and the lower-levelouter frames 61 c which are located at the lowermost positions (seeFIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 7 ). - According to this structure, the weight can be reduced by configuring the
grille shutter unit 3 to comprise the plural vertically-splitouter frames grille shutter unit 3 by the shroud 2 (the shroud sides 23) can be secured by providing the brackets 6 between the upper-levelouter frames 61 a and the lower-levelouter frames 61 c. - Moreover, since the
grille shutter unit 3 of the present embodiment is configured such that theouter frames plural shutters 30, and theplural shutters 30 are supported by attaching theframes latch housing portion 9 in the vehicle width direction or its vicinity and portions of the shroud sides 23, 23 which respectively correspond to themount devices 5 and the bracket attaching-face portions 26 in the vehicle width direction or their vicinity), the support rigidity of theshutters 30 can be secured, reducing the whole weight of theshroud 2 andgrille shutter unit 3. - The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but any other various embodiments are applicable. For example, while the
shutter shafts 34 i, 34 o are provided on the side of theshutters 30 and the frames 60 (61 a, 61 b, 61 c, 63, 64) are pivotally supported by theshutter shafts 34 i, 34 o in the above-described embodiment, theseshutter shafts 34 i, 34 o may be provided on the side of the frames 60 (61 a, 61 b, 61 c, 63, 64) and theshutters 30 may be pivotally supported by theshutter shafts 34 i, 34 o, for example. - Moreover, while the
swing shafts 73 i, 73 o are provided on the side of the first and second swing links 71, 74 and theshutters 30 are pivotally supported by theswing shafts 73 i, 73 o in the above-described embodiment, theseswing shafts 73 i, 73 o may be provided on the side of theshutters 30 and the first and second swing links 71, 74 may be pivotally supported by theswing shafts 73 i, 73 o, for example.
Claims (10)
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JP2017-128576 | 2017-06-30 | ||
JP2017128576A JP6455559B2 (en) | 2017-06-30 | 2017-06-30 | Automobile grill shutter mounting structure |
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US20190001810A1 true US20190001810A1 (en) | 2019-01-03 |
US10350991B2 US10350991B2 (en) | 2019-07-16 |
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US15/969,812 Active US10350991B2 (en) | 2017-06-30 | 2018-05-03 | Grille shutter attaching structure of automotive vehicle |
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US (1) | US10350991B2 (en) |
JP (1) | JP6455559B2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN109203978B (en) |
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US10857872B2 (en) * | 2018-09-18 | 2020-12-08 | Volvo Car Corporation | Vehicle front structure |
US11225900B2 (en) * | 2019-03-26 | 2022-01-18 | Hyundai Motor Company | Active air flap and control method thereof |
US20220176810A1 (en) * | 2019-04-05 | 2022-06-09 | Montaplast Gmbh | Sequential switching of venetian blinds |
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JP2021115901A (en) * | 2020-01-22 | 2021-08-10 | トヨタ自動車株式会社 | vehicle |
JP7507218B2 (en) | 2022-11-09 | 2024-06-27 | 森六テクノロジー株式会社 | Vehicle front grille |
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US20120019025A1 (en) * | 2010-07-21 | 2012-01-26 | Darin Evans | Integrated energy absorber and air flow management structure |
US9150096B2 (en) * | 2013-03-29 | 2015-10-06 | Mazda Motor Corporation | Grill shutter structure of vehicle |
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Also Published As
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JP2019010956A (en) | 2019-01-24 |
US10350991B2 (en) | 2019-07-16 |
JP6455559B2 (en) | 2019-01-23 |
CN109203978B (en) | 2021-10-15 |
DE102018004658A1 (en) | 2019-01-03 |
CN109203978A (en) | 2019-01-15 |
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